A Texas jury found Rodney Reed guilty of the murder of Stacey Stites.

He requested DNA testing on certain pieces of evidence, including the belt used to strangle Stites.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals agreed and denied Reed's motion for a rehearing.

The District Court dismissed his complaint while The Fifth Circuit affirmed on the ground that Reed’s §1983 claim was filed too late, after the applicable 2-year statute of limitations had run.

[5][6] Reed sought review of the Fifth Circuit decision by the Supreme Court and filed a writ of certiorari.