Dharun Ravi's attorney wants conviction thrown out

• Dharun Ravi was convicted in connection to two incidents of spying on his roommate in 2010.
• His roommate, Tyler Clementi, later jumped off the George Washington Bridge.
• Ravi was convicted in 2012 of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and other crimes.

NEWARK - A New Jersey appeals court will decide whether a former Rutgers University student convicted of spying on a roommate who later committed suicide will be retried, be resentenced or have his conviction invalidated.

Dharun Ravi was convicted in connection to two incidents in September 2010, when he spied on his roommate, Tyler Clementi, having romantic encounters with another man. Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge days later. Ravi was not tried for Clementi's death.

Ravi was convicted in 2012 of bias intimidation and invasion of privacy. He faced up to 10 years in prison but received 30 days in jail. Ravi’s attorneys argue a change in state law since the trial should invalidate his conviction. The state contends the judge erred by giving Ravi too lenient a sentence. A ruling is expected in three or four months.

He was sentenced to 30 days in the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in North Brunswick, along with three years' probation, more than $11,000 in fines and assessments, 309 hours of community service and counseling. He served 20 days in county jail, receiving 10 days' credit for good behavior. He was released from county jail in June 2012.  

Dharun Ravi sentenced to 30-day jail term

Ravi wasn’t at Wednesday’s arguments, but Clementi’s parents and brother were.

"We are hopeful that the appellate court will analyze the legal issues it has been asked to review with depth and care so that the law in this important area will be well resonated and clear," the Clementi family said in a statement.

The family also said it's been "more than five years since Tyler's roommate intruded upon Tyler's privacy and exposed intimate images of our son to students in his dorm in the first days of their freshman year."

"Since then we and the Tyler Clementi Foundation have been working hard on the issue of bullying. In that five year period, the values of this country have evolved due to the good work and good intentions of many people and organizations," the statement said. "Americans — young and old — are more sensitive today to the enduring harm that bullying can cause, particularly to our most vulnerable young people. And many young people who might otherwise be drawn into bullying others are listening to their peers who see in bullying a sad reflection of the bully. What was perhaps tolerated with mild disapproval then is now seen by many as simply not acceptable. We are grateful for this progress."

The family said they will continue to work through the Tyler Clementi Foundation "to create safe, respectful and supportive social environments for all students and vulnerable youth."

Additional information about the Tyler Clementi Foundation is available at Tylerclementi.org.

Contributing: Associated Press