What is at the core of the Strickland v. Washington ruling?

The Strickland v. Washington ruling is pivotal in understanding the rights of defendants to receive effective legal representation. This landmark case established a two-pronged test to evaluate claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, thereby setting a standard that courts use to assess whether a defendant's right to counsel, as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, has been violated.

The first prong of the Strickland test requires that the defendant shows that the attorney's performance was deficient, meaning it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. The second prong necessitates proving that this deficiency prejudiced the defense, influencing the outcome of the trial. By establishing these criteria, the Strickland case ensures that defendants have a legal basis to argue that their counsel did not perform competently, which could impact their right to a fair trial.

This ruling does not address the roles of judges, limit the rights of defendants, or enhance the power of prosecutors, but rather focuses specifically on the quality and effectiveness of legal representation provided to defendants in criminal trials, making it a crucial aspect of legal proceedings in the United States.