Pitchford v. Cain · ¶42

Following his loss in state court, Mr. Pitchford sought habeas relief in federal court. Among other things, he argued that the Mississippi Supreme Court's waiver holding was unreasonable. The district court agreed and granted relief, explaining that it “view[ed] the record a bit differently” than the Mississippi Supreme Court had. App. to Pet. for Cert. 22. In the district court's view, the state trial court had “failed to provide” Mr. Pitchford with any “opportunity” to make a step three argument “rebut[ting]” the prosecution's proffered race-neutral reasons. Ibid. The Fifth Circuit reversed, holding that the Mississippi Supreme Court's waiver finding was both reasonable and, indeed, correct. 126 F. 4th 422, 429, 431 (2025). We granted certiorari. 607 U. S. 1094 (2025).

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