MD Supreme Court Agrees To Hear 'Serial' Subject Adnan Syed's Case

BALTIMORE, MD —The Maryland Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to review a lower court's decision to reinstate Adnan Syed's murder conviction in the 1999 death of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee.

In a short order, Senior Justice Shirley Watts wrote that the court will hear questions raised by Syed in his appeal, as well as those presented by Lee's family. Arguments in the case will be heard Oct. 5.

Syed, who was found guilty of killing Lee in 2000, spent more than 20 years in prison for her death and gained national attention after the case was chronicled in the hit podcast "Serial."

In September 2022, Baltimore Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn vacated Syed's first-degree murder conviction after former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby and Syed's lawyer filed motions questioning the integrity of the trial and evidence that sent Syed to prison. Prosecutors dropped all charges against Syed in October.

The court reinstated Syed's conviction in March and ordered a redo of the hearing at which Syed's conviction was vacated. The panel ruled that a circuit court judge violated the rights of Young Lee, who claimed he did not receive proper notice and was denied the right to be heard at the hearing.

Young Lee's lawyer asked the court to reverse its decision to vacate charges against Syed in December.

Last month, Syed's attorneys petitioned the Maryland Supreme Court to review the lower court's ruling to reinstate his murder conviction. In the petition, his attorneys sought an evaluation of several factors in the case, including Young Lee's narrative when he claimed he was not given enough notice about last year's hearing.

Shortly after, Lee's family also petitioned the court to hear an appeal of the case. In the filing, the family's lawyer asked the state's highest court to take up the appeal to ensure victims are given a "meaningful voice."

As the case drags on, Syed will remain free while the appeal is pending. But there is a chance he could ultimately return to prison, depending on the outcome.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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