Vasquez v. Hillery

Hillery (defendant), an African-American man, was indicted on murder charges by a grand jury from which he alleged African-Americans had been intentionally excluded; the trial court denied his motion to quash the indictment, and he was convicted. After 16 years of unsuccessful state appeals, Hillery obtained federal habeas relief when the district court granted his petition based on the discriminatory grand jury selection. Vasquez (plaintiff), the prison warden, petitioned the Supreme Court for review of that grant.