Michael Jordan's Dad's Murder Case: Judge Makes U-Turn On Conviction

Michael Jordan and his family may be forced to relive one of the most painful moments of their lives with a shocking update on his father's murder case.

The judge who presided over the nearly 30-year-old case has since retired, but he recently returned to the spotlight with a plea to release the convicted killer. The former legal umpire believes he may have punished the wrong man.

Michael Jordan's father, James R. Jordan Sr., was infamously gunned down in the mid-90s during a botched robbery. Daniel Green, an 18-year-old at the time, was sentenced to life for the crime. But the retired judge claims new evidence may prove his innocence.

According to new reports, Gregory Weeks — the retired judge who presided over the 1996 murder trial — implored the North Carolina state parole board to release the convicted killer. His petition was based on the alleged findings of the forensic expert from the case.

Weeks claimed the forensic expert did not disclose crucial results during the murder trial. This evidence would have cast doubt on Green being the killer because the blood test from the crime scene allegedly came back negative and/or inconclusive.

Michael's father was tragically shot inside his car while he was sleeping on the side of an NC highway. Prosecutors alleged that Green had walked up to the vehicle and opened fire on July 23, 1993; however, Weeks believed the undisclosed evidence would have changed the outcome of his fate.

On that note, the retired judge wanted Green out of the Southern Correctional Institute in Troy, NC, where he is serving his life sentence. The convict, now 49, applauded Weeks' actions, per TMZ, saying, "It speaks volumes about this case, and I'm overwhelmingly grateful."

James did not get to witness all the impacts his son had on basketball; however, he played a significant role in building Michael's NBA legacy. The late Jordan patriarch and his wife, Deloris, helped the athlete become a superstar in the sport.

Surprisingly, basketball played a significant role in the Jordan family, with James and Deloris first meeting at a basketball game in 1954. The duo was in high school then and started dating shortly after.

James and Deloris said their vows in 1956 and welcomed five children, with Michael being the youngest. In the 2020 ESPN docuseries "The Last Dance," the former pro basketball player revealed his parents encouraged all their children to play organized sports, per PEOPLE.

In the docuseries, Michael recalled how his parents always tried to keep him busy — a sentiment his late father echoed in the archival footage used in the show. "We had five kids, and both the wife and I both worked, and we would worry at times about the kids being home," James said.

"So, we thought one of the things that we could do was get them involved in sports. Drop them off at the little league field or the gym and keep them involved in the community," the late patriarch continued. Those lessons ended up shaping Michael's NBA career, with him noting:

"As you get older, you look back, and you understand how you became the person you are. I don't think I would be here without the lessons that I learned at a very young age. That competitiveness within me started when I was a kid."

Over a year before the new update in his father's murder case, The Blast covered the sale of Jordan's stake in the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion. The team announced the big news on their Instagram page, writing:

"OFFICIAL: The sale of the majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall has been finalized."

A press release issued by the team explained that the NBA Board approved the sale of Governors, and it gave Plotkin and Schnall controlling interest in the franchise. Although Jordan sold his majority stake, he retained a minority stake in the team and an alternate governor position.

Jordan addressed the sale in an open letter to fans, the city, and the team, stating, "Thank You, but not goodbye, Charlotte. Thirteen years ago, I had the honor of becoming the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets."

"The chance to own the NBA franchise in my home state and a city I love was truly a dream come true," Jordan continued, expressing gratitude to Hornets fans for their years-long love and support. He further noted his belief in Plotkin and Schnall to lead the team to greater heights.

How will Michael Jordan react to the update in his father's murder case?