Public Defenders can be pretty awful.
One would think that at least PDs could be relied on to be conscious during the trial, but no…
Price of doing business. Lawyers know that on appeal many clients are going to try to shit on them. Its pretty standard. Especially if there is no grounds on misconduct or improper mistakes from the other side.
There are shitty prosecutors too. PDs tend to be about the same age and experience as their counter parts and get paid the same. Some spend their entire careers there because of the job security and benefits. Others use it as experience and leave for public practice. Just like assistant prosecutors.
Unless I’m mistaken most law firms are willing to support a claim of incompetence as long as the former client is willing to sign an agreement not to push for any official misconduct or a civil suit. In any complex case a lawyer will have to decide on a defense, in lieu of other defenses. They have to choose which evidence to introduce, and which is too distracting to the jury. Having the original lawyer help identify how he might have screwed things up, can be really valuable in an appeal. So it is simply good business for everyone to cooperate.
Bumping the thread again: