In a 7–2 decision by Associate Justice William Rehnquist, the Court held that, if a state prisoner fails to raise a federal constitutional claim at trial or on appeal in a manner in keeping with the state's requirements, and cause and prejudice for this failure cannot be shown, that claim cannot be subsequently raised in federal habeas corpus proceedings.

[6][7] On June 5, 1972, John Sykes was convicted of third-degree murder by a jury in the Circuit Court of DeSoto County, Florida.

Justice Rehnquist delivered the opinion of the court, which adopted the requirement of "cause" and "prejudice" for excusing failure to comply with procedural rules.

[1] Chief Justice Warren Burger filed a concurring opinion, arguing that the standard outlined in Fay v. Noia "...was never designed for, and is inapplicable to, errors -- even of constitutional dimension -- alleged to have been committed during trial."

Justice Byron White filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, arguing that while the majority was correct in reversing the Fifth Circuit's granting of habeas relief to Sykes, that this was so because the admission of his inculpatory statements at trial represented a "harmless error", as the Supreme Court had previously outlined in Harrington v.