</s>MunN Press Release Folian. CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION June 25, 1969 ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. XXX (F) REL:JmV Enclosed is one copy of each of the following documents: Prayer for Appeal, Petition of James Earl Ray for Writ of Certiorari, and Memorandum Finding of Facts and Conclusions of Law. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail legal proceedings surrounding James Earl Ray’s 1968 conviction for assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on his guilty plea, sentencing, and post-conviction appeals. Ray pleaded guilty in Shelby County, Tennessee, on March 10, 1969, under the guidance of attorneys Richard J. Ryan and later Robert W. H. Jr. and Clyde Mason. Judge Arthur C. Faquinn denied Ray’s motion for a new trial on May 26, 1969, citing Tennessee law that final judgments based on guilty pleas cannot be appealed. A separate ruling by Judge William H. Battle affirmed Ray’s voluntary waiver of trial rights under state law, referencing precedents such as *State v. Pence* (1968) and *Johnson v. Zerst* (1919). The documents include court orders, petitions, and legal analyses regarding procedural limits on appeals and new trial motions. References to FBI surveillance of Dr. King’s telephone communications are noted, with an FBI official stating such taps were limited to national security cases. Fragmented text also mentions Ray’s physical description, unrelated cases involving J. B. Stoner (linked to the Ku Klux Klan) and Avery (a prison official), and newspaper names like *Washington Post* and *New York Times*.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted of assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sentenced to 99 years in prison.  
- **Richard J. Ryan**: Attorney for Ray during initial legal proceedings.  
- **Robert W. H. Jr.**, **Clyde Mason**: Attorneys representing Ray in later appeals.  
- **Judge Arthur C. Faquinn**: Shelby County Criminal Court judge who denied Ray’s motion for a new trial.  
- **Judge William H. Battle**: Tennessee judge who ruled on the validity of Ray’s guilty plea waiver.  
- **John S. Martin**: Attorney involved in legal proceedings; referenced FBI surveillance of Dr. King.  
- **Dwight Dyer**: Attorney for the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, noted no financial support for appeals.  
- **J. B. Stoner**: Individual linked to the Ku Klux Klan, mentioned in fragmented text.  
- **Avery**: Prison official involved in a separate case referenced in documents.  

Key Locations  
- **Shelby County, Tennessee**: Site of Ray’s trial and initial sentencing.  
- **Tennessee State Penitentiary (Nashville)**: Where Ray was incarcerated post-conviction.  
- **Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals**: Housed appeals challenging Ray’s conviction.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Court proceedings location; referenced in fragmented text.  

Key Events  
- **Guilty Plea and Waiver Review (March 10, 1969)**: Judge Battle affirmed Ray’s voluntary waiver of trial rights under state law.  
- **Denial of New Trial Motion (May 26, 1969)**: Judge Faquinn ruled that judgments based on guilty pleas cannot be appealed in Tennessee.  
- **FBI Surveillance Testimony**: FBI official stated telephone taps of Dr. King were limited to national security cases, though no direct evidence linked the agency to the assassination.  
- **Post-Conviction Legal Battles**: Ray’s legal team filed multiple motions seeking new trials or appeals, which were dismissed by courts citing prior judicial rulings on waivers.  
- **Fragmented References**: Text includes mentions of Ray’s appearance in court with a physical description (“black trousers, white shirt”) and unrelated cases involving Avery and Stoner.  

Key Organizations  
- **Shelby County Criminal Court (Tennessee)**: Oversaw Ray’s trial and initial sentencing.  
- **Tennessee Department of Correction**: Managed Ray’s incarceration at Tennessee State Penitentiary.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Mentioned in context of surveillance of Dr. King’s communications, though no direct link to the assassination is established.  
- **Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals**: Handled post-conviction appeals and legal challenges to Ray’s sentence.  
- **U.S. Supreme Court**: Referenced in the appeal process for Ray’s case.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_002_ser_231_only-part_04_of_10.pdf

Document Summary

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