The Maryland Court of Special Appeals is currently evaluating an application for leave to appeal in the case of Adnan Syed v. State of Maryland, No. 2519, September Term, 2013. This development is part of the post-conviction process following the Baltimore City Circuit Court's denial of Syed's petition for post-conviction relief.
The court has instructed the State of Maryland to submit a response to this application by January 14. A decision on whether to grant leave to appeal will be made after both Syed’s application and the state’s response are reviewed.
Documents related to this case, including the application for leave to appeal, can be accessed on the Maryland Judiciary website. The state's response and any subsequent decisions by the Court of Special Appeals will also be posted online once available.
An application for leave to appeal allows an appellate court to review a criminal case under specific circumstances when no direct right to appeal exists. In this instance, Syed seeks such a review from Maryland's appellate courts, which include both the Court of Special Appeals and the Court of Appeals. These courts assess trial court actions and determine compliance with legal standards and precedents.
Maryland Rule 8-204 governs applications for leave to appeal, typically reviewed without oral arguments unless granted by the court.
For media inquiries regarding Adnan Syed v. State of Maryland, contact should be directed towards Angelita Plemmer Williams or Terri Charles at the Maryland Judiciary Office of Communications and Public Affairs via phone at 410-260-1488.