The court argued that the initial proceeding violated the legal rights of the victim's family, adding another twist to the legal saga that gained global attention through the hit podcast "Serial."

The 4-3 ruling upheld an appellate court's decision to reinstate Syed's conviction. This decision comes after nearly 11 months since the court originally heard arguments in October of last year. The case, which dates back to 2000 when Syed was convicted of murdering his high school ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, has encountered numerous legal twists and divided court rulings.

Despite the conviction being upheld, the court ruled that Syed, who was released from prison in 2022, can remain free while the case heads to a new lower court judge. The judge will now determine whether Syed's conviction should be overturned. Baltimore State's Attorney Ivan Bates has stated that his office is reviewing the ruling and refrained from further comment at this time.

The court's decision stemmed from the belief that the previous hearing, which led to Syed's release, denied the victim's brother, Young Lee, his rights. The court ruled that Lee was not treated with the "dignity, respect, and sensitivity" he deserved as he was not provided reasonable notice of the hearing. To rectify this, the court determined that Lee would be given a reasonable opportunity to attend the new hearing, along with his counsel, to ensure they can present their arguments.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Michele Hotten argued that the issue was moot as the conviction had already been vacated. Hotten referred to the case as a "procedural zombie," resurrected despite its expiration, and voiced concerns about misusing judicial power.

This latest ruling highlights the clash between recent criminal justice reform efforts and the rights of crime victims and their families. It raises questions about how their voices fit into a growing movement for acknowledging and correcting systemic issues, such as historic racism, police misconduct, and prosecutorial missteps.

David Sanford, an attorney representing the victim's family, sees the ruling as a validation of crime victims' rights to be heard in court. Sanford acknowledged that if there is compelling evidence to support vacating Syed's conviction, they would agree, but stressed that such evidence has not yet been presented to warrant overturning a murder conviction that has endured appeals for over two decades.

The case has drawn attention due to its connection to the popular podcast "Serial," which unveiled little-known evidence and sparked widespread discussion and speculation among listeners. Adnan Syed, now 43, has consistently maintained his innocence while expressing empathy and concern for the surviving relatives of Hae Min Lee, who was found strangled to death and buried in an unmarked grave in 1999.

Maryland's highest court has been involved in Syed's legal battle multiple times in the past. In 2019, the court narrowly ruled against granting Syed a new trial, while a lower court had initially ordered a retrial in 2016 based on claims of ineffective counsel. More recently, Baltimore prosecutors reexamined Syed's case under a law targeting "juvenile lifers" as he was 17 at the time of the crime. In their reassessment, they discovered alternate suspects and evidence that called the reliability of the original trial into question.

As the latest set of appeals continues to progress through the state court system, Adnan Syed remains free, awaiting the outcome of this complex and highly scrutinized legal battle.