[expatpat]

I don't know anything about this case, but how in the world does a Federal Judge get involved in a State murder case?

[Catspaw]

Writ of Habeas Corpus, for starters. Or a 1983 action (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/1983.html). A state prisoner can't go to the federal courts until his state appeals are exhausted. You see this more publicized in state death penalty cases, but it's done in other cases as well.