by Erica J. Suter | Mar 31, 2018 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Post Conviction
It is our opinion that, if McClain’s testimony had been presented to the jury, it would have “alter[ed] the entire evidentiary picture,” because her testimony would have placed Syed at the Woodlawn Public Library at the time the State claimed that...
by Erica J. Suter | Mar 30, 2018 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Post Conviction
Because Syed has proven the performance and prejudice prongs of the Strickland test, we conclude that his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel has been established. Accordingly, Syed’s murder conviction must be vacated, and because Syed’s convictions...
by Erica J. Suter | Jun 18, 2017 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Post Conviction, Uncategorized
I wanted to get this out sooner, but I’ve been swamped with my own cases. By now, much has already been written and discussed regarding oral argument in State v. Syed. Journalists published their articles that day and you can now purchase an audio of the...
by Erica J. Suter | Apr 30, 2017 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Post Conviction, Uncategorized
As you know, on June 30, 2016, the post conviction court vacated Adnan Syed’s convictions and granted him a new trial. The post conviction court found that Syed’s trial counsel’s failure to cross examine the State’s expert on the...
by Erica J. Suter | Apr 1, 2017 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Guilty Plea, Motion to Correct Illegal Sentence, Post Conviction, Uncategorized
95% of felony convictions in the United States are obtained through guilty pleas according to a campaign by the Innocence Project and Innocence Network that you can read more about here. 22 states and the District of Columbia expressly permit those who have entered...
by Erica J. Suter | Jan 13, 2017 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense
If you were convicted following a trial in a circuit court in Maryland, you have a direct right of appeal. That means that the next highest court above the trial court, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, must hear your case if you file your appeal within your...
