To clarify, this hearing today will not decide that abu-jamal gets a new trial, but it may determine that he doesn't get one. This is a hearing to decide if the court should even hold a hearing where abu-jamal can present evidence and witnesses in support of his claim for a new trial.

In sort of layman's terms, abu-jamal filed a request for a new trial last december, the DA then asked the court to dismiss that request without even holding a hearing because it was too far-fetched, and this is where the court will hear the parties' arguments on the DAs request. If the DA's request is granted, then abu-jamal will not get a new trial (not based on his current arguments at least). If the DA's request is denied, then the court will have a subsequent hearing sometime in the future where evidence and testimony will be presented and after that evidence and testimony is presented the court would decide whether abu-jamal should get a new trial.