The appeal process is complicated and difficult to navigate. Call our team of California criminal appeals lawyers for a FREE consultation.Notably, the prejudicial error ground for filing a successful motion to vacate does not require a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel. This guide contains generic forms and instructions for filing a typical motion, opposition, or reply in California state court. There are 2 components to ineffective assistance of counsel. "To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant '"must establish not only deficient performance, i. e. You need to tell the court that your public defender has not talked to you and ask the court to relieve the PD's office and appoint other counsel. You can make a motion for ineffective assistance of counsel during your trial if you feel that your lawyer is not performing their duties. An attorney who fails to. 2. McClish's petition before the California Supreme Court briefly presented the argument that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel, because.