People v. Oathout

OPINION OF THE COURT

Pigott, J.

In People v Rivera (71 NY2d 705, 708 [1988]), this Court held that what constitutes effective assistance of counsel varies according to the particular circumstances of each case. “So long as the evidence, the law, and the circumstances of a particular case, viewed in totality and as of the time of the representation, reveal that the attorney provided meaningful representation, the constitutional requirement will have been met” (id. at 708, quoting People v Baldi, 54 NY2d 137, 146-147 [1981]). Counsel’s performance must be evaluated to determine whether the…