People v. Grant

The defendant’s contention that he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel is without merit. A defendant’s right to effective assistance of counsel is satisfied when, under the totality of circumstances existing at the time of representation, counsel provided the defendant with “meaningful representation” (P eople v Benevento, 91 NY2d 708 , 712). The test is one of reasonable competence, not perfect representation (see People v Modica, 64 NY2d 828 , 829; People v Benevento, supra). Thus, a reviewing court must avoid confusing “true ineffectiveness with mere losing tactics and according undue significance to retrospective analysis” (People v Baldi, 54 NY2d 137 , 146). In light of all of the circumstances involved in this case, we conclude that the defendant was provided with meaningful representation.

The contentions raised by the defendant in his supplemental