Lee's murder initially only generated local interest until it became the subject of the first season of the podcast Serial in 2014, which brought international attention to the crime and to Syed's trial; bringing the conviction into question.[5] In July 2016, Judge Martin P. Welch vacated Syed's conviction and ordered a new trial.[2] On March 29, 2018, Maryland Court of Special Appeals upheld the decision to grant Syed a new trial.[7] This decision was overturned by the Maryland Court of Appeals on March 8, 2019.[8]