</s>44- HQ-38861 E5792 8661-5792 EBP 44-HQ-38881-E5782C4 ATTENTION COPIED FOR MAY 18 1871 BY 3/4 BEFORE CHANGING CLASSIFICATION OR PROCESSING ANY DOCUMENT FROM THIS FILE FOR RELEASE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, CONTACT FOI/PA SECTION UNIT D, EXT. 5767. F/BU/DOJ 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail legal proceedings involving James Earl Ray’s conviction for the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on challenges to his 1968 guilty plea and sentencing in Memphis, Tennessee. Ray’s attorneys argued procedural irregularities arose after the death of Judge Presley Battle, who presided over his initial trial and guilty plea. The state filed a Motion to Strike Ray’s motion for a new trial, asserting it was untimely or procedurally invalid. Subsequent judge Arthur C. Faquin denied the appeal, citing lack of a valid bill of exceptions and adherence to procedural rules. Legal arguments centered on Tennessee statutes (e.g., T.C.A. 17-17-17) allowing motions for new trials post-judge death and claims that Ray’s guilty plea was involuntary due to misrepresentation or coercion. The case was ultimately denied by the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee in 1969.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Accused of assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., convicted of murder, and sentenced to 99 years in prison.  
- **Judge Presley Battle**: Original trial judge who died on March 31, 1968, before the motion for a new trial could proceed.  
- **Judge Arthur C. Faquin**: Subsequent judge who ruled against Ray’s motion for a new trial.  
- **J.B. Stoner and others**: Attorneys representing Ray in his appeal.  
- **Richard J. Ryan, Robert W. Hill, Jr., Thomas E. Fox, Mark A. Walker**: Legal representatives involved in the case.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of the assassination and trial proceedings.  
- **Shelby County Criminal Court, Tennessee**: Original trial court where Ray’s case was heard.  
- **Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee, Jackson**: Jurisdiction over appeals and statutory interpretations.  

Key Events  
1. **Guilty Plea and Sentencing**: Ray entered a guilty plea to murder in 1968, with a sentence of 99 years in prison, under an agreement that included potential lighter sentencing if resolved out of court.  
2. **Death of Judge Battle**: Judge Battle died on March 31, 1968, before the motion for a new trial could be fully addressed.  
3. **Motion to Strike**: The state filed a Motion to Strike Ray’s motion for a new trial, arguing it was procedurally invalid.  
4. **Denial of Appeal**: Judge Faquin denied Ray’s request for an appeal, citing procedural rules and lack of a valid bill of exceptions.  
5. **Appeal to Court of Criminal Appeals**: Ray sought review of the motion for a new trial, which was denied in 1969.  

Key Organizations  
- **Tennessee Department of Correction**: Involved in Ray’s incarceration.  
- **Shelby County Criminal Court, Tennessee**: Original trial court.  
- **Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee**: Jurisdiction over appeals and statutory interpretations.  
- **State of Tennessee**: Respondent in legal proceedings.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_25-08.pdf

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