Craig Saunders v. Franklin Tennis

HARDIMAN, Circuit Judge.

Craig Saunders appeals the District Court’s denial of his petition for writ of habeas corpus, arguing that the Pennsylvania state courts and the District Court erred in rejecting his claim under Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). We will affirm.

I

Because we write for the parties, who are well acquainted with the case, we recount only the essential facts and procedural history.

In September 2004, Saunders was tried and convicted in Pennsylvania state court on one count of conspiracy to commit escape of a prisoner. The Honorable Renee…