Judge rules Casey Anthony indigent public must pay!

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reporting judge has ruled - Im running out - maybe someone can post the whole article
Im so darn disgusted with this whole thing - they are all crooks!

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A Orange County judge on Friday ruled that the public must pay court costs for Casey Anthony, the young mother charged in the death of her 2-year-old daughter.

Circuit Judge Stan Strickland made his ruling one day after hearing testimony about Anthony receiving $200,000 from ABC News for the exclusive rights to family photos and videos of the defendant and the daughter she is accused of killing, Caylee Marie Anthony.

That money, though, is gone, Anthony's attorneys testified on Thursday.

In a one-page order, Strickland, wrote that he has reviewed Anthony's financial paperwork and concluded that she truly is indigent.

His order requires the state to pay all costs associated with her defense except for lawyer fees. That would include such major ticket items as experts, investigators and her lawyers' travel expenses. She has lawyers from Chicago and New York as well as Kissimmee and Orlando.

In court Thursday, her attorneys testified about where the money went. Jose´ Baez testified that he had received $89,500 while putting in about 2,500 hours of work. Andrea Lyon, a professor at DePaul University in Chicago, testified that she is representing Anthony for free but had been paid $22,500 for expenses.

Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her child, who disappeared in the summer of 2008. Five months later, the child's body was found in a patch of woods about a mile from the home Casey Anthony shared with her parents and her daughter Caylee.

Friday was Anthony's 24th birthday. She remains in the Orange County Jail under protective custody, meaning she is segregated from most other inmates and has few privileges.

We still don't know where KC and her defense team got all that darn money! Yeah I know we "hear" selling the video's and Caylee pictures to the media. Those pictures and video's fetched a lot of money. I hope the Anthony family all enjoy the video sassy made. It is the best of all the Caylee one's I have ever seen and youtube has hundreds of them.

The only positive about this is that maybe she won't be able to say she didn't get a fair trial because she didn't have the finances to defend herself...

I was reading the article in the Sentinel and it brought up KC's fake Universal Event Planner job...I never understood how GA and CA thought she really had a job...She couldn't have ever had any money (unless she was getting it in some other nefarious line of work) and what about taxes...W-2's...etc. Did the Ants claim Caylee as a dependent? Wasn't there ever any discussion about this among the three of them? Who was going to claim her? Didn't they ask: Are you doing your taxes so you can get some money back? Are you claiming Caylee? etc., etc. (Or maybe they never filed their taxes!?) This just boggles my mind that they would swallow the job story so easily! Did they know and just not want to stir things up? I just don't get this so-called family at all!! Even though I hate the way Caylee died, it may have spared her many torturous times in her life...At least she is in a peaceful, loving place instead of in the middle of that chaotic environment!!!

Not too impressed with Judge Strickland right now.

George said he never asked Casey about her taxes, but he and Cindy didn't claim her as a dependent. I'm sure that they knew Casey wasn't working, but didn't want to confront the little Princess and have their perfect little family in turmoil.

Welcome to the criminal justice system - so called because its justice for the criminals - and apparently their lawyers too. There are so many points that have been brought up about improprities by all the defense and yet Strickland in just one day and with very little investigation grants Casey's indigency request. Yes folks, you and I would have already been in prison in a case like this but Americas's nightmare sweetheart
Casey is victorious again. Not only that Perry Mason,
whoops make that Cheney Mason a top-gun attorney has signed on who is arrogrance personified.

from Hal Boedeker of orlando sentinel:
The judge ruled that Casey Anthony is indigent, and local TV stations put the story near the top of evening newscasts.

“Taxpayers are going to have to pay Casey Anthony’s defense bills,” WFTV-Channel 9 anchor Darrell Greene said in opening tonight’s 5 o’clock newscast.

But the stations quickly turned to other Anthony issues: notes that she wrote in jail, money that her defense team spent, and the woman who says she was George Anthony’s mistress.

The Orange County Jail is launching an investigation into letters that Anthony wrote to fellow inmates. Court documents put the number of notes that Anthony wrote at 258 pages. WFTV’s Kathi Belich explained the investigation will focus on allegations “that a jail guard here helped Casey Anthony and another inmate exchange letters, which is not allowed.”

WESH-Channel 2’s Bob Kealing cited a source who had read the letters and said they contained “ramblings,” “references to food” and “very few references to Caylee.” Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

“She’s talking about her case, she’s committing a cardinal sin,” said Orlando attorney Richard Hornsby, who does legal analysis for WESH. “Don’t talk about your case to anybody in jail.”


Hornsby also said: “The amount of notes isn’t very shocking to me. Inmates have nothing else to do while they’re in jail. The question is how this girl got these notes back and forth to Casey Anthony.”

WFTV and WOFL-Channel 35 focused on the $275,000 that the Anthony defense team had spent before running out of cash.

Judge Stan Strickland today wanted an explanation of how defense attorney Jose Baez had spent money beyond the $112,500 they’ve accounted for, plus $10,000 to public-relations expert Marti Mackenzie.

WFTV’s Belich said: “Behind closed doors, he [Baez] apparently explained how he spent the other $152,500 dollars that was left. … We have not gotten any paper work about how Baez spent his money, but we’re trying to get it. Starting now, taxpayers will pay for Casey’s experts, investigators and other costs, which her new attorney Cheney Mason says could amount to $200,000.”

WOFL’s Holly Bristow said: “Attorney Jose Baez did have a big file with him. He had to show the judge where Casey’s money has been spent. .. This afternoon, Baez did have to bring facts and figures into the judge’s chambers. It was all done behind closed doors. I asked where the money has gone, but he wouldn’t answer any of my questions.”

WKMG-Channel 6’s Tony Pipitone talked to Crystal Holloway, the woman also known as River Cruz who says she was George Anthony’s mistress. Holloway alleges that George said granddaughter Caylee died in “an accident that snowballed out of control.”

“He has known, him and Cindy both have known she has been deceased,” Holloway told Pipitone.

Caylee’s grandparents deny that statement, Pipitone said. George Anthony, through his lawyer, had denied the affair as well.

More about this alleged affair is likely to come out in discovery that will be released, possibly Monday.
SOURCE:
orlandosentinel.com

It seems that the letters might not contain much after
all

Cheney Mason a top-gun attorney has signed on who is arrogrance personified.

I heard on one of the tv shows that he signed onto this case because he thought it would be "fun". Trying to get a child killer off is his idea of fun?

:shock: :jaw dropping: :throwpc:

It's a good thing. If Strickland had ruled any differently, Casey could come back once found guilty in an appeal and say she had ineffective council. She could then get off Scott Free. I know it sounds horrible, but it is for the best. You have to look at the big picture as f'd up as it is.

From Thursday's NG show:

GRACE: Let`s unleash the lawyers. Joining us tonight, expert in Florida law, Bill Sheaffer, former prosecutor, WFTV legal analyst, Renee Rockwell, veteran defense attorney, handling felony cases out of Atlanta. And out of New York, practicing in multiple jurisdictions, along with the other two hours, Mickey Sherman, defense attorney, author of "How Can You Defend Those People?"

First to you, Sheaffer. Surprised about the turn of events today?

SHEAFFER: Absolutely not surprised. And I`m going to tell you something. We as the citizens of Florida should hope that the judge does grant this motion for cost and that the taxpayers do pick it up.

And by the way, I`m one of those taxpayers. And here`s the reason why. Do we really want to deny her cost of investigation of this case so she that gets convicted and on appeal she raises the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel, denial of due process because the court refused to grant her indigency status?

It`s going to happen.

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This is interesting from Bill Shaeffer.

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Posted: 4:03 pm EDT March 19,2010
Updated: 6:50 pm EDT March 19,2010

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Taxpayers are going to have to pay Casey Anthony's defense bills. The court officially declared her indigent Friday afternoon (read order).

JUDGE'S ORDER: Strickland Grants Indigence Status
VIDEO REPORT: Taxpayers Saddled With Casey's Defense
CASEY ARRIVES: See Images | Raw Video
INDIGENCY HEARING: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Images
BILL SHEAFFER: Analysis Of Casey Hearing
INDIGENCE DETAILS: Motion | Fees | Application

Casey's lawyers were in court Thursday fighting for the state to pay for their defense. Friday, they got what they wanted.

Casey has already spent $275,000 on her defense. Much of that money came from a TV network deal, but now she's out of cash.

The judge said Friday that he reviewed defense attorney Jose Baez's cost ledger and said Casey meets all the legal standards to be declared indigent for the purposes of cost.

The defense told the judge Thursday it brought in a total of $275,000 for Casey's defense. Baez had already filed paperwork with the clerk indicating he got $90,000 of it for his fee and co-counsel Andrea Lyon got $22,500, but used all of that for expenses, and that he paid public relations woman Marti Mackenzie $10,000.

Behind closed doors, Baez apparently explained how he spent the other $152,500 that was left.

Baez reluctantly revealed Thursday in court that he had gotten $200,000 through Casey's deal with ABC for Casey's photos and videos of Caylee, $5,000 from a donor he didn't disclose and another $70,000 through an unusual contribution from his former co-counsel Todd Macaluso.

Coincidentally or not, Lyon said her DePaul University Law Clinic had raised $70,000 in donations for Casey's defense.

Regardless of exactly how the money was spent, taxpayers will now pay for Casey's experts, investigators, and other costs, which her new lawyer J. Cheney Mason said Thursday could amount to about $200,000. The cost of her lawyers, all of whom appear to currently be working for free, is not covered under this order.


JAILHOUSE LETTERS COULD HURT DEFENSE

More information came out Thursday about two inmates Casey befriended while in jail. Sources tell Eyewitness News that Casey may have written as many as 50 letters to one of them. Eyewitness News has also learned that those letters were illegally passed between inmates by a corrections officer.

VIDEO REPORT: Casey's Letters Passed Illegally In Jail
'SECRET' MOTION: Judge Unseals | State's Motion

Thursday afternoon, on the courthouse steps, Eyewitness News asked Casey's team whether they knew about the letters and they did not have much to say.

"I'm not going to comment on any of that until the court has an opportunity to hear our arguments," lead attorney Jose Baez said.

In public, Casey has kept her mouth shut abut what happened to her daughter Caylee, but new evidence in the case show she found confidantes behind bars.

Eyewitness News broke the story Thursday when a new document (read it) revealed an investigation involving two other inmates and one corrections officer. They say she wrote at least 50 letters to an inmate, possibly a woman named Robyn Adams, who was also incarcerated in the Orange County jail.

Adams is in now federal prison for her participation in the drug trade.

The letters could be released in 15 days if Casey's law team does not fight it.

Eyewitness News has learned the letters do not contain a confession, but they do have information regarding the case. Sources who have read the letters say what is in them could be damning to Casey's defense.

A corrections officer is being investigated, because she allegedly facilitated the friendship by passing the letters along. The jail said it cannot confirm that assertion, but if the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement turns up enough evidence to warrant an internal investigation it will conduct one.

"Also significant, because it's not a matter of jailhouse snitch coming forward to say that she allegedly said something to them. These letters are in her own handwriting," WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said.

On Thursday, it was also revealed that Casey's defense team has received about $275,000 from the ABC television network for pictures and videos of Caylee. They will have to present an itemized breakdown of that money before the judge will declare Casey indigent. That decision could be handed down Friday.


"GAME CHANGING" ATTORNEY INTRODUCED AT CASEY HEARING

At an indigency hearing Thursday morning in the case against Casey Anthony, there was a major shake-up in the defense team. Renowned criminal defense attorney J. Cheney Mason, who is based in Orlando, has now joined the defense team (visit his website).

CASEY ARRIVES: See Images | Raw Video
INDIGENCY HEARING: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Images
BILL SHEAFFER: Analysis Of Casey Hearing
INTERVIEWS: Casey's New Attorney | Jose Baez
TEAM COVERAGE: Casey In Court, New Attorney

"I was looking all over for a Perry Mason. The best I could do was Cheney Mason,” Casey's lead attorney, Jose Baez, told the media after Thursday’s hearing (watch full interview).

Now, Mason will be added to the team assembled by Baez. He's there with death penalty expert Andrea Lyon and former member of the OJ Simpson dream team, Linda Kenney Baden.

“You do not come any larger than J. Cheney Mason,” WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said. "He's going after an acquittal, not just to get her off a death sentence."

Mason has 39 years of experience as a criminal defense lawyer and a largely winning record.

“This is the most significant event for the defense since the discovery of Caylee’s body," Sheaffer said.

Mason was awarded the highest honor in the country in 2004 by National Criminal Defense Attorneys and has been successful in defending 50 first-degree murder cases.

“He has a great deal of talent and a great deal of credibility,” Sheaffer said. “This is a game changer.”

Thursday, Mason said defense lawyer Jose Baez asked him to join the defense team and he agreed, saying it will be "fun." WFTV asked him if he's a "game changer."

“I don't know. I guess when a jury says ‘not guilty’ we'll find out,” he replied (watch full interview). "This case is going to be fun to try, and we will walk out of here with Casey in arm. Stand by."

Mason said he's putting off retirement to do this and said he's already amassing a team of others who are willing to work for free, as he is, to give Casey a fighting chance against what's becoming a tougher and tougher case for her.

“In the end, no matter how talented the lawyer is, the facts are what the facts are. He cannot alter those facts. He has to work with them,” Sheaffer said.

This isn't the first high-profile case Mason has been involved in. He helped former astronaut Lisa Nowak get a plea that kept her out of jail and a felony conviction off her record. Nowak was accused of trying to kidnap a romantic rival after driving to Orlando from Texas.

Mason also successfully represented Lou Pearlman in cases against boy bands N’Sync and The Backstreet Boys. That was before Pearlman was exposed as a con-man and convicted of cheating banks and investors out of $300 million. Mason dropped out of that case before it ended.

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Mason also successfully represented Lou Pearlman in cases against boy bands N’Sync and The Backstreet Boys. That was before Pearlman was exposed as a con-man and convicted of cheating banks and investors out of $300 million. Mason dropped out of that case before it ended.

That's one way to have a winning record, predicting he'll drop out early on this one too.

I heard Mason say that he thought this case would be "fun"! It sickened me...His whole attitude was a turn-off, but what would you expect from that bunch of so-called "lawyers"?

Talk about desecrating precious Caylee's memory. "Fun"...to let her killer get off?
Mason is paving his way to Hell-IMO.

One more thing..."fun" would be Caylee outside today in the sun, catching butterflies w/ her friends. That would be "fun".

“In the end, no matter how talented the lawyer is, the facts are what the facts are. He cannot alter those facts. He has to work with them,” Sheaffer said.

Someone asked Baez (maybe it was Kathy Belich - Baez's arch enemy!) who was not lead council and Baez kind of stuttered that he was! I bet NOT!

He was asked in court if he was lead council and he stammered and said, "for all intents and purposes".

Thats exactly what he said - even HE doesnt know!

I think this new Attorney, Cheney Mason, w/be lead council and Andrea Lyon will be off the case.

Yes Andrea Lyon will drop out - I dont think she will want the scrutiny on her little "non-profit" group.
Also Cheney I hear likes to drop out if things dont go his way. He was too breezy and arrogant for my taste,
I dont think he likes to lose and I dont think he wants to retire on a case that he loses!

I hope Cheney drops out and leaves Bozo hanging.