cronic argued january decided may respondent two associates indicted mail fraud charges involving check kiting scheme whereby checks transferred bank florida bank oklahoma respondent retained counsel withdrew shortly scheduled trial date district appointed young lawyer real estate practice never participated jury trial represent respondent allowed days prepare trial even though government taken four years investigate case reviewed thousands documents investigation respondent convicted appeals reversed inferred respondent right effective assistance counsel sixth amendment violated finding unnecessary inquire counsel actual performance trial based inference circumstances surrounding representation respondent particularly time afforded investigation preparation experience counsel gravity charge complexity possible defenses accessibility witnesses counsel held appeals erred utilizing inferential approach determining whether respondent right effective assistance counsel violated pp right effective assistance counsel right accused require prosecution case survive crucible meaningful adversarial testing true adversarial criminal trial conducted kind testing envisioned sixth amendment occurred pp appeals purported apply standard reasonable competence indicate actual breakdown adversarial process trial instead concluded circumstances surrounding representation respondent mandated inference counsel unable discharge duties surrounding circumstances justify presumption ineffectiveness sixth amendment claim sufficient without inquiry counsel actual performance trial pp five criteria identified appeals circumstances surrounding respondent representation warranting finding ineffective assistance counsel relevant evaluation lawyer effectiveness particular case neither separately combination provide basis concluding competent counsel able provide respondent guiding hand constitution guarantees pp case one surrounding circumstances make unlikely defendant received effective assistance counsel criteria used appeals demonstrate counsel failed function meaningful sense government adversary respondent make claim ineffective assistance counsel pointing specific errors made trial counsel pp stevens delivered opinion burger brennan white blackmun powell rehnquist joined marshall concurred judgment edwin kneedler argued cause briefs solicitor general lee assistant attorney general trott deputy solicitor general frey john fichter de pue steven duke appointment argued cause filed brief respondent briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed national association criminal defense lawyers et al john cleary national legal aid defender association et al richard wilson charles sims burt neuborne justice stevens delivered opinion respondent two associates indicted mail fraud charges involving transfer checks banks tampa norman period shortly scheduled trial date respondent retained counsel withdrew appointed young lawyer real estate practice represent respondent allowed days pretrial preparation even though taken government four years investigate case reviewed thousands documents investigation two codefendants agreed testify government respondent convicted counts indictment received sentence appeals reversed conviction concluded respondent assistance counsel defence guaranteed sixth amendment constitution conclusion supported determination respondent trial counsel made specified errors actual performance prejudiced defense failed exercise skill judgment diligence reasonably competent defense attorney instead conclusion rested premise showing necessary circumstances hamper given lawyer preparation defendant case question presented government petition certiorari whether appeals correctly interpreted sixth amendment indictment alleged check kiting scheme direction respondent codefendant cummings opened bank account name skyproof manufacturing skyproof bank tampa codefendant merritt opened two accounts one name one name skyproof banks norman knowing insufficient funds either account defendants allegedly drew series checks wire transfers tampa account aggregating deposited skyproof norman bank account period june october approximately period drew checks skyproof norman account deposits tampa aggregating process clearing checks involved use mails kiting insufficient funds checks banks two cities defendants allegedly created false inflated balances accounts outlining overall scheme count indictment alleged mailing two checks less early may additional counts realleged allegations count except reference two specific checks added allegation identifying checks issued mailed later dates trial government proved skyproof checks issued deposited times places amounts described indictment made plea bargains defendants cummings merritt actually handled issuance delivery relevant written instruments government proved testimony respondent conceived directed entire scheme deliberately concealed connection skyproof prior financial tax problems district ruled prior conviction used impeach testimony respondent decided testify counsel put defense government witnesses however established skyproof merely sham actually operating company significant cash flow though revenues sufficient justify large float record disclosed also established absence written evidence respondent control skyproof personally participated withdrawals deposits jury trial ended july respondent sentenced august counsel perfected timely appeal docketed september two months later respondent filed motion substitute new attorney appeals also filed motion district seeking vacate conviction ground newly discovered evidence perjury officers norman bank government knew known perjury motion also challenged competence trial counsel district refused entertain motion appeal pending appeals denied motion substitute attorney designated respondent appoint still another attorney handle appeal later allowed respondent motion supplement record material critical trial counsel performance appeals reversed conviction inferred respondent constitutional right effective assistance counsel violated inference based use five criteria time afforded investigation preparation experience counsel gravity charge complexity possible defenses accessibility witnesses counsel quoting golub test employed appeals reversal required even lawyer actual performance flawless utilizing inferential approach appeals erred ii accused right represented counsel fundamental component criminal justice system lawyers criminal cases necessities luxuries presence essential means rights person trial secured without counsel right trial little avail recognized repeatedly rights accused person right represented counsel far pervasive affects ability assert rights may special value right assistance counsel explains long recognized right counsel right effective assistance counsel mcmann richardson text sixth amendment suggests much amendment requires merely provision counsel accused assistance defence thus core purpose counsel guarantee assure assistance trial accused confronted intricacies law advocacy public prosecutor ash actual assistance accused defence provided constitutional guarantee violated hold otherwise convert appointment counsel sham nothing formal compliance constitution requirement accused given assistance counsel constitution guarantee assistance counsel satisfied mere formal appointment avery alabama omitted substance constitution guarantee effective assistance counsel illuminated reference underlying purpose ruth lord eldon said best discovered powerful statements sides question dictum describes unique strength system criminal justice premise adversary system criminal justice partisan advocacy sides case best promote ultimate objective guilty convicted innocent go free herring new york premise underlies gives meaning sixth amendment meant assure fairness adversary criminal process morrison unless accused receives effective assistance counsel serious risk injustice infects trial cuyler sullivan thus adversarial process protected sixth amendment requires accused counsel acting role advocate anders california right effective assistance counsel thus right accused require prosecution case survive crucible meaningful adversarial testing true adversarial criminal trial conducted even defense counsel may made demonstrable errors kind testing envisioned sixth amendment occurred process loses character confrontation adversaries constitutional guarantee violated judge wyzanski written criminal trial game participants expected enter ring near match skills neither sacrifice unarmed prisoners gladiators ex rel williams twomey cert denied sub nom sielaff williams iii appeals purported apply standard reasonable competence indicate actual breakdown adversarial process trial case instead concluded circumstances surrounding representation respondent mandated inference counsel unable discharge duties evaluation conclusion begin recognizing right effective assistance counsel recognized sake effect ability accused receive fair trial absent effect challenged conduct reliability trial process sixth amendment guarantee generally implicated see morrison weatherford bursey moreover presume lawyer competent provide guiding hand defendant needs see michel louisiana burden rests accused demonstrate constitutional violation however circumstances likely prejudice accused cost litigating effect particular case unjustified obvious course complete denial counsel presumption counsel assistance essential requires us conclude trial unfair accused denied counsel critical stage trial similarly counsel entirely fails subject prosecution case meaningful adversarial testing denial sixth amendment rights makes adversary process presumptively unreliable specific showing prejudice required davis alaska petitioner denied right effective constitutional error first magnitude amount showing want prejudice cure citing smith illinois brookhart janis circumstances magnitude may present occasions although counsel available assist accused trial likelihood lawyer even fully competent one provide effective assistance small presumption prejudice appropriate without inquiry actual conduct trial powell alabama case defendants indicted highly publicized capital offense six days trial trial judge appointed members bar purposes arraignment whether represent defendants thereafter counsel appeared behalf matter speculation judge indicated mere anticipation part day trial lawyer tennessee appeared behalf persons interested defendants stated opportunity prepare case familiarize local procedure therefore unwilling represent defendants short notice problem resolved decided tennessee lawyer represent defendants whatever help local bar provide defendants young ignorant illiterate surrounded hostile sentiment haled back forth guard soldiers charged atrocious crime regarded especial horror community tried thus put peril lives within moments counsel first time charged degree responsibility began represent every refusal postpone criminal trial give rise presumption avery alabama counsel appointed capital case three days trial trial denied counsel request additional time prepare nevertheless held since evidence witnesses easily accessible defense counsel circumstances make unreasonable expect counsel adequately prepare trial period time similarly chambers maroney refused fashion per se rule requiring reversal every conviction following tardy appointment counsel thus surrounding circumstances justify presumption ineffectiveness sixth amendment claim sufficient without inquiry counsel actual performance trial appeals find respondent denied presence counsel critical stage prosecution find based actual conduct trial breakdown adversarial process justify presumption respondent conviction insufficiently reliable satisfy constitution dispositive question case therefore whether circumstances surrounding respondent representation particular five criteria identified appeals justified presumption iv five factors listed appeals opinion relevant evaluation lawyer effectiveness particular case neither separately combination provide basis concluding competent counsel able provide respondent guiding hand constitution guarantees respondent places special stress disparity duration government investigation period district allowed newly appointed counsel trial preparation lawyer appointed represent respondent june june filed written motion continuance trial scheduled begin june although counsel contended needed least days preparation district reset trial july thus allowing additional days preparation neither period time government spent investigating case number documents agents reviewed investigation necessarily relevant question whether competent lawyer prepare defend case days government task finding assembling admissible evidence carry burden proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt entirely different defendant task preparing deny rebut criminal charge course cases rebuttal may equally burdensome time consuming necessary correlation two case time devoted government assembly organization summarization thousands written records evidencing two streams checks flowing banks florida oklahoma unquestionably simplified work defense counsel identifying understanding basic character defendants scheme series repetitious transactions fit single mold number written exhibits needed define pattern may unrelated time needed understand significance counsel preparation time reduced nature charges respondent government case consisted merely establishing transactions two banks competent attorney reason question authenticity accuracy relevance evidence dispute transactions actually occurred respondent appears recognize bona fide jury issue open competent defense counsel facts whether respondent acted intent defraud reason dispute underlying historical facts period days consider question whether facts justify inference criminal intent short even arguably justifies presumption lawyer provide respondent effective assistance counsel required constitution conclusion undermined fact respondent lawyer young principal practice real estate first jury trial every experienced criminal defense attorney tried first criminal case moreover lawyer experience real estate transactions might useful preparing try criminal case involving financial transactions prior experience handling example armed robbery prosecutions character particular lawyer experience may shed light evaluation actual performance justify presumption ineffectiveness absence evaluation three criteria gravity charge complexity case accessibility witnesses matters may affect reasonably competent attorney expected done circumstances none identifies circumstances make unlikely respondent received effective assistance counsel case one surrounding circumstances make unlikely defendant received effective assistance counsel criteria used appeals demonstrate counsel failed function meaningful sense government adversary respondent therefore make claim ineffective assistance pointing specific errors made trial counsel respondent present counsel argues record support attack leave claim well alleged trial errors raised respondent passed upon appeals consideration appeals remand judgment reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes criminal prosecutions accused shall enjoy right informed nature cause accusation confronted witnesses compulsory process obtaining witnesses favor assistance counsel defense see williams skyproof according indictment largely facade pretense permit withdrawal large sums money banks good deal evidence concerned efforts norman bank recoup losses also efforts respondent make restitution bank took local bottling company texas acquired skyproof scheme operation respondent apparently offered make bank whole funds supplied rich aunt evidence provide respondent much defense mail fraud charges considered relevant sentencing district trial response questions bench respondent expressed satisfaction counsel performance however motion new trial respondent attacked counsel performance explained prior praise counsel affidavit psychologist indicated advised respondent praise trial counsel order ameliorate lawyer apparent lack government hires lawyers prosecute defendants money hire lawyers defend strongest indications widespread belief lawyers criminal courts necessities luxuries right one charged crime counsel may deemed fundamental essential fair trials countries beginning state national constitutions laws laid great emphasis procedural substantive safeguards designed assure fair trials impartial tribunals every defendant stands equal law gideon wainwright time eroded force justice sutherland opinion powell alabama right heard many cases little avail comprehend right heard counsel even intelligent educated layman small sometimes skill science law charged crime incapable generally determining whether indictment good bad unfamiliar rules evidence left without aid counsel may put trial without proper charge convicted upon incompetent evidence evidence irrelevant issue otherwise inadmissible lacks skill knowledge adequately prepare defense even though perfect one requires guiding hand counsel every step proceedings without though guilty faces danger conviction know establish innocence true men intelligence much true ignorant illiterate feeble intellect case civil criminal state federal arbitrarily refuse hear party counsel employed appearing reasonably may doubted refusal denial hearing therefore due process constitutional sense see ash argersinger hamlin gideon wainwright johnson zerbst powell alabama schaefer federalism state criminal procedure harv rev sixth amendment however guarantees appointment competent counsel terms one right assistance counsel defence assistance begins appointment counsel end cases performance counsel may inadequate effect assistance counsel provided clearly cases defendant sixth amendment right assistance counsel denied decoster app mackinnon concurring cert denied see also wainwright sykes white concurring judgment brennan dissenting tollett henderson parker north carolina quoted kaufman judge right qualified counsel see also polk county dodson system assumes adversarial testing ultimately advance public interest truth fairness gardner florida plurality opinion belief debate adversaries often essential function trials requires us also recognize importance giving counsel opportunity comment facts may influence sentencing decision capital cases specifically right assistance counsel understood mean restrictions upon function counsel defending criminal prosecution accord traditions adversary factfinding process constitutionalized sixth fourteenth amendments whether man innocent determined trial denial counsel made impossible conclude satisfactory degree certainty defendant case adequately presented betts brady black dissenting see also jones barnes brennan dissenting satisfy constitution counsel must function advocate defendant opposed friend ferri ackerman indeed indispensable element effective performance defense counsel responsibilities ability act independently government oppose adversary litigation see engle isaac agurs tollett henderson parker north carolina mcmann richardson brady course sixth amendment require counsel impossible unethical bona fide defense charge counsel create one may disserve interests client attempting useless charade see nickols gagnon cert denied time even theory defense available decision stand trial made counsel must hold prosecution heavy burden proof beyond reasonable doubt course even bona fide defense counsel may still advise client plead guilty advice falls within range reasonable competence circumstances see tollett henderson parker north carolina mcmann see generally bordenkircher hayes north carolina alford brady appeals focused counsel overall representation respondent opposed specific error omission counsel may made course type breakdown adversarial process implicates sixth amendment limited counsel performance whole specific errors omissions may focus claim ineffective assistance well see strickland washington post since type claim passed upon appeals consider thus appropriate inquiry focuses adversarial process accused relationship lawyer counsel reasonably effective advocate meets constitutional standards irrespective client evaluation performance see jones barnes morris slappy reason attach weight either respondent expression satisfaction counsel performance time trial later expression dissatisfaction see supra cf agurs omitted proper standard materiality prosecutor failure disclose exculpatory evidence must reflect overriding concern justice finding guilt thus view counsel performance abstract rather impact counsel performance upon accused counsel trial mckaskle wiggins whenever asked consider charge counsel failed discharge professional responsibilities start presumption conscious duties clients sought conscientiously discharge duties burden demonstrating contrary former clients matthews see flanagan estelle williams murphy florida bruton sheppard maxwell jackson denno payne arkansas murchison uniformly found constitutional error without showing prejudice counsel either totally absent prevented assisting accused critical stage proceeding see geders herring new york brooks tennessee hamilton alabama white maryland per curiam ferguson georgia williams kaiser apart circumstances magnitude however generally basis finding sixth amendment violation unless accused show specific errors counsel undermined reliability finding guilt see strickland washington post see generally davis alabama vacated moot cooper fitzharris en banc mcqueen swenson ex rel green rundle bines remedying ineffective representation criminal cases departures habeas corpus rev note ineffective representation basis relief conviction principles appellate review colum law social prob enough assume counsel thus precipitated case thought defense exercised best judgment proceeding trial without preparation neither say prompt thoroughgoing investigation might disclose facts attempt made investigate opportunity given defendants immediately hurried trial circumstances disclosed hold defendants accorded right counsel substantial sense decide otherwise simply ignore actualities see also chambers maroney harlan concurring part dissenting part white ragen per curiam house mayo per curiam ex parte hawk per curiam ineffectiveness also presumed counsel actively represented conflicting interests cuyler sullivan see flanagan joint representation conflicting interests suspect tends prevent attorney holloway arkansas see also glasser see also morris slappy see also mancusi stubbs government suggests presumption prejudice justified counsel subject external constraints performance case appeals identified external constraint district decision give counsel days prepare trial fact accused attribute deficiency representation source external trial counsel make less likely received type trial envisioned sixth amendment justify reversal conviction absent actual effect trial process likelihood effect cf agurs prosecutorial misconduct evaluated basis culpability effect fairness trial made clear chambers avery cases involved external constraints counsel form limitations length pretrial preparation yet neither presume constraint effect fairness trial fact last term made clear respect trial refusal grant defense additional time prepare trial external constraint counsel great deference must shown trial courts scheduling problems face see morris slappy conversely presumed prejudice counsel labors actual conflict interest despite fact constraints counsel context entirely see cuyler sullivan see generally goodpaster trial life effective assistance counsel death penalty cases rev note functional analysis effective assistance counsel colum rev note ineffective assistance counsel lingering debate cornell rev noteworthy exhibits consisting primarily bank records batches checks together summary charts prepared government actually introduced trial none several lawyers represented respondent including present counsel months study record suggested reason challenge authenticity relevance reliability government evidence concerning transactions issue see brief respondent mail fraud statute respondent convicted provides whoever devised intending devise scheme artifice defraud obtaining money property means false fraudulent pretenses representations promises sell dispose loan exchange alter give away distribute supply furnish procure unlawful use counterfeit spurious coin obligation security article anything represented intimated held counterfeit spurious article purpose executing scheme artifice attempting places post office authorized depository mail matter matter thing whatever sent delivered postal service takes receives therefrom matter thing knowingly causes delivered mail according direction thereon place directed delivered person addressed matter thing shall fined imprisoned five years instructive compare case powell reality appointment counsel day trial also substantial dispute underlying historical facts case like avery chambers powell consider case commands constitution pass wisdom propriety appointing inexperienced counsel case entirely possible many courts exercise supervisory powers take greater precautions ensure counsel serious criminal cases qualified see generally committee consider standards admission practice federal courts final report bazelon defective assistance counsel cin rev burger special skills advocacy specialized training certification advocates essential system justice ford rev burger reflections problem adequacy trial counsel ford rev schwarzer dealing incompetent counsel trial judge role harv rev address prudent appropriate constitutionally compelled connection worth noting proof located district respondent tried concerned largely undisputed historical facts underlying transactions issue brief respondent goes beyond factors enumerated appeals arguing receive effective assistance counsel trial example respondent points trial counsel used notes assist opening statement jury told jury first trial none aspects counsel representation inherently inconsistent reasonably effective defense justify presumption respondent trial unfair indeed product reasonable tactical judgment since counsel overall performance question appeals passed primary focus respondent arguments confined analysis claim challenging counsel overall performance one based particular errors omissions respondent pursue claims based specified errors made counsel remand evaluated standards enunciated strickland washington post government argues defendant attack actual performance trial counsel petition postconviction relief direct appeal ineffective assistance claims generally properly raised district preserved review appeal whatever merits position general matter case respondent raise claim district motion new trial federal rule criminal procedure district denied motion lack jurisdiction case pending direct appeal time ruling erroneous district jurisdiction entertain motion either deny motion merits certify intention grant motion appeals entertain motion remand case see phillips per curiam ellison cert denied hays smith lee cert denied guam inglett hersh richardson comulada cert denied ferina smith app bazelon concurring result cert denied zamloch later proceeding per curiam cert denied rakes per curiam later proceeding cert denied moore moore federal practice wright federal practice procedure pp ed see also johnson appeals reach claim actual ineffectiveness since reversed conviction without considering counsel actual performance accordingly claim remains open remand