At trial in state court for murder and other offenses, the prosecution raised a “reverse-Batson” challenge to counsel’s peremptory strikes against two jurors.

The court disallowed both strikes and Murray was convicted and sentenced, principally, to 25 years to life in prison. After unsuccessfully seeking 28 USC §2254 habeas relief in federal district court, Murray’s appeal renewed his challenge to the state court’s reverse-Batson ruling.