Adnan Syed's Legal Odyssey Continues: Conviction Reinstated, New Hearing Ordered

 On Tuesday, the Appellate Court of Maryland reinstated Adnan Syed's murder conviction and ordered a new hearing in the case, which has been the subject of the popular podcast "Serial" and a protracted legal battle.

However, Syed will not immediately be taken back into custody.

The court ruled that a lower court failed to give sufficient notice to the victim’s family when it scheduled the hearing that vacated Syed’s conviction, thereby violating the family's right to prior notice of conviction vacatur hearings under Maryland law.

 The order will not go into effect for 60 days, giving the parties time to appeal and schedule upcoming proceedings accordingly.

 Syed’s attorney Erica Suter stated that they will ask the state supreme court to review the case.

Syed was convicted in 2000 of killing his high school ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, whose body was found in a makeshift grave after her disappearance in 1999.

 In September, Baltimore prosecutors moved to vacate Syed's conviction after they reviewed the case and found alternative suspects and unreliable evidence used at trial.

 The lower court then quickly scheduled a hearing on the state's motion to vacate.

 However, the victim's brother was only given one business day's notice before the hearing and was unable to attend in person. 

The appellate court ruled that this violated the Lee family's right to attend court proceedings and be treated with dignity and respect.

The new hearing must be more transparent, requiring that "evidence supporting the motion to vacate is presented, and the court states its reasons in support of its decision.

" The appellate court also interrogated the state's decision to drop the charges against Syed while an appeal from the Lee family was pending, concluding that the state acted “with the purpose ... of preventing Mr. Lee from obtaining a ruling on the appeal.

” The Baltimore State's Attorney's Office is currently reviewing the ruling, but their position is complicated by a recent change in leadership.

The current state's attorney, Ivan Bates, took office in December, not long after his predecessor Marilyn Mosby decided to drop the charges against Syed.