UPDATE 11/29/18:

Click here to watch the oral arguments at the Court of Appeals regarding Adnan Syed’s hearing.

ORIGINAL POST (7/12/18):

Posted by Suraj A. Vyas | 2 minute read

"This is a Global Tel-Link prepaid call from Adnan Syed, an inmate at a Maryland correctional facility."

That sentence has been heard about 500 million times by people all around the world. For those who don't recognize it, I strongly urge you to click here and come back after you're done listening to the most riveting piece of journalism I've ever heard.

All caught up? Well, I have a new development for you: Earlier today, the Court of Appeals (Maryland's highest court) granted a writ of certiorari (meaning they granted review) in State of Maryland v. Adnan Syed. Below is a screenshot of the exact issues that the Court of Appeals will review.

There's a part of me that thinks that I was so enthralled by the podcast because it takes place in Baltimore, Maryland in places and streets I visit daily. On the other hand, I know that what kept me recommending this podcast; what kept me intermittently thinking about this podcast over the last four years was whether this fellow University of Baltimore School of Law alumni, the late Maria Cristina Gutierrez, had a sound legal strategy regarding the exclusion of a potential witness. And I'm not alone. The murder of Hae Min Lee and that particular aspect of the case took the world by storm 15 years after it happened due to Sarah Koenig and her team's journalistic work. I am curious to see what September will bring to this case. The decision of this appeal will affect the responsibility of attorney's throughout Maryland. The ramifications could be substantial.

I do want to end on an extremely important note. Though we find these tales gripping and interesting, it's important to remember Hae Min Lee, Maria Cristina Gutierrez, and Adnan Syed are all real people and the things we say and do online go back to their loved ones. It's important to have a discussion about these things, but please be civil and respectful in your thoughts and comments.

Learn more about this topic and get in touch with The Law Offices of Suraj A. Vyas through social media @SAVLawFirm