</s>case and that his attorneys are the said Robert W. Hill, Jr. and J. B. Stoner. The representation that has been made to the Court by the said attorney Hill that the state authorities have refused to permit him to interview the plaintiff in the State Penitentiary. "The Court requested the Chief Deputy Clerk of the Court to contact proper state officials to see if they would not permit the said attorney to have access of a plaintiffin in the penitentiary without the necessity of a court order. The Clerk was advised that this could not be done. In View of these circumstances, it appears to the Court that it is appropriate in the interest of justice to issue an instantor order directing the Warden of the State Penitentiaries, and the Commissioner of Corrections of Tennessee, to permit the attorney, Robert W ., Hill, Jr. to have access to his client, James Earl Ray, in the Tennessee State Penentiary on this date, under such conditions as will permit privacy between the plaintiffiff and his attorney and will maintain proper security. It is, therefore, and will ORDERED that the United States Marshall forthrowth serve upon Lake F. Russell, Warden, Tennessee state Penitentiary, Nashville, Tennessee, and Harry S. Avery, Commissioner of corrections of Tennessee, a certified copy of this order and that said officials be, and they are hereby, directed to permit Robert W .. 2 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The document contains court orders and legal proceedings related to James Earl Ray, who was incarcerated in the Tennessee State Penitentiary. A federal district court judge issued an order permitting attorney Robert W. Hill Jr. to access Ray for consultation regarding a lawsuit involving Ray’s alleged involvement in the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. The order specifies that Ray was serving a 99-year sentence imposed by the Shelby County Criminal Court. The document includes a petition filed by Ray against Percy Forman, William Bradford Hude, and others, alleging conflicts of interest and improper legal representation. Ray claims his attorneys, including Forman, pressured him to plead guilty to first-degree murder, despite his assertions of innocence. The petition seeks to nullify contracts granting rights to the story of Ray’s alleged involvement in King’s assassination and requests an injunction to prevent further disclosure of such facts. The text also references a criminal court proceeding where Ray waived his right to a trial by jury and accepted a guilty plea, with the judge confirming he understood his legal rights and the consequences of his plea.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (defendant, incarcerated in Tennessee State Penitentiary)  
- Robert W. Hill Jr. (attorney for Ray)  
- Percy Forman (attorney accused of conflicts of interest)  
- William Bradford Hude (co-respondent in legal proceedings)  
- Judge William E. Miller (federal district court judge)  
- Judge Preston Battle (deceased, presiding judge in Shelby County Criminal Court)  

Key Locations:  
- Tennessee State Penitentiary (Nashville, Tennessee)  
- Shelby County Criminal Court (Tennessee)  
- Middle District Court of Tennessee  

Key Events:  
- Federal court order granting attorney access to James Earl Ray in prison.  
- Legal petition by Ray against Forman and Hude alleging improper legal representation and conflicts of interest.  
- Criminal court proceeding where Ray waived his right to a trial and accepted a guilty plea to first-degree murder.  
- Allegations that attorneys exploited Ray’s situation for financial gain, leading to a 99-year sentence.  

Key Organizations:  
- Tennessee Department of Corrections (via Warden Lake F. Russell)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (mentioned in context of legal filings)  
- Shelby County Criminal Court (Tennessee)

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_89-01-part_3_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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