Smith v. Vasquez

Issue: (1) Whether a state court acts “contrary to… clearly established Federal law”? under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1) when it cites the appropriate standard of review for a specific issue in its opinion but later uses imprecise shorthand terms in referring to that standard; and (2) whether the Sixth Circuit erred in granting habeas relief on the respondent’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim notwithstanding the state courts’ contrary determination.