The Maryland Supreme Court reinstated Adnan Syed’s conviction for the 1999 murder of his former girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, and directed lower courts to conduct new hearings regarding the evidence that led to his release in 2022.
On Friday, a divided court did not contest the evidence that had exonerated Syed but criticized the pace at which prosecutors dropped the charges against him. The Lee family claimed they were not provided sufficient notice, preventing Hae Min’s brother, Young Lee, from attending the vacatur proceedings that freed Syed.
The majority opinion, authored by Justice Jonathan Biran, stated that the prosecutor and circuit court unjustly disregarded the rights of Mr. Lee. Biran pointed out that the state failed to provide Mr. Lee, as a crime victim’s representative, with reasonable notice, the ability to attend the hearing, or the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the vacatur motion.
David Sanford, representing the Lee family, welcomed the ruling, asserting that it reaffirms the rights of crime victims as enshrined in the Maryland State Constitution. He added that the Lee family would now have the chance to address the merits of the vacatur motion after presentations from both the prosecution and defense.
Erica Suter, an assistant public defender representing Syed, expressed strong disagreement with the court’s decision but affirmed respect for it. She noted that despite the ruling, the court did not mandate Syed’s return to prison. Suter asserted that reinstating his conviction does not bring justice or closure to Hae Min Lee’s family and significantly affects Syed’s family, who have suffered for over two decades.
The case gained widespread attention through the podcast “Serial,” which raised questions about Syed’s conviction. Syed was released in September 2022 after it was revealed that trial prosecutors may have withheld evidence and DNA testing that excluded him as a suspect.
Young Lee learned only days before the vacatur hearing that it would take place, resulting in his inability to attend in person despite attempts from his attorney to postpone the hearing for his presence. The circuit court judge eventually vacated Syed’s conviction, leading to all charges being dropped by the prosecutors.
After appealing the decision and asserting their victim’s rights were violated, the Maryland Appellate Court agreed, reinstating Syed’s conviction and ordering new vacatur hearings.
The Supreme Court mandated returning to the point immediately after the State’s Attorney filed the motion to vacate. A minority of justices disagreed, suggesting the majority overstepped by creating new victims’ rights rather than interpreting existing laws.
However, Kelly, who previously represented Young Lee, remarked that the ruling essentially restarts the process for the vacatur motion and permits the victim’s family to participate. He noted the decision provides the Lee family a meaningful voice in the criminal justice system, calling it a vital component of the process.