The Maryland Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from Adnan Syed, whose murder conviction was reinstated earlier this year following his release from prison. Syed's case gained national attention through the popular podcast "Serial."
Oral arguments are scheduled for October 5th, with briefs due in August. The court will also hear appeals from the family of Hae Min Lee, Syed's ex-girlfriend whom he was convicted of killing in 2000.
Syed's release last year followed Baltimore prosecutors identifying flaws in the original trial evidence. A judge subsequently vacated the conviction. However, Lee's family appealed, arguing they weren't given adequate notice of the hearing that led to Syed's release. The Maryland Appellate Court agreed, reinstating Syed's conviction and ordering a new hearing.
Syed's attorney, Erica Suter, is now appealing to the state's highest court. She argues that former Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby's decision to dismiss the charges against Syed rendered the family's appeal moot. Suter also questions whether the victim's family received sufficient notice and if allowing Zoom testimony for Lee's brother satisfied their right to attend the hearing. Last September, the judge allowed Young Lee to participate via Zoom but denied a postponement to allow him to travel from California.
Additionally, Syed's legal team wants the Supreme Court to determine if reinstating the conviction was justified without demonstrating that the original hearing would not have resulted in Syed's release. Meanwhile, the Lee family's petition requests expanded rights for victims in such hearings, including the ability to challenge evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
The Lee family's attorney, David Sanford, emphasized their commitment to victims' rights and their intention to urge the court to allow the family to challenge any evidence presented in Syed's defense. Syed's attorneys argue that granting victims such expanded roles would significantly alter Maryland court procedures, effectively making them third-party prosecutors – a decision they believe rests with the legislature, not the courts.
While Syed remains free pending the appeal's outcome, the possibility of his return to prison remains a real possibility.
