Defense Out Of Money? KC Files For Indigent Status

I think it's funny that Casey is stuck with Bozo because the Anthonys can't afford to replace him. I guess you get what you pay for.

That's a great one, J4A!! I wonder how that makes JB feel? He should be embarrassed, but I'm not sure anything embarrasses him.

That darn Baez! I wonder if they offered him the same deal?

I wonder if he's going to stay with the case if the state doesn't pay him such a huge amount as he's used to?

He hasn't got a case. He hasn't worked on anything to defend Casey. He hasn't even deposed the state's witnesses and it's getting late to where they could forget a lot of stuff over time. Is he really intending to go with Casey to trial? I wonder sometimes, because he's going to lose and look the fool he is in front of the world. I wouldn't put it past him to duck out the backdoor and go on the rest of his life saying he could have won, but he didn't get to try the case.

This is a post I found at WS written by Richard Hornsby, who is a criminal defense attorney in Orlando. Thoght you would be interested. Bold is mine.

rhornsby
Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer
Yesterday, 10:55 PM

What if I told you that the State Attorney (i.e. Lawson Lamar) will not even factor in whether the State is paying for Casey's defense.

What if I told you the cost of her defense will not come anywhere near $2 million (more like $100K).

Okay, nevermind, I am telling you that. Lawson Lamar has been the elected State Attorney for Orange and Osceola since 1980 something and he is unlikely to run again because he is reaching age limts in Florida. So he could care less what the State is ordered to pay for her defense.

Most importantly though, the State Attorney is not even a party to Casey's motion to be declared indigent (which she will be); rather the attorneys for the Justice Administration Commission will be the attorneys of record when the request for indigency will be argued. And while they will likely object, Judge Strickland will declare Casey indigent.

However, once she is declared infigent, JAC will only pay the costs if Casey's defense abides by JAC guidelines - which are less than extravegant. As a result he cannot use his priced experts that live out of state unles they are either (1) wiling to accept the JAC rate of pay (about $150 an hour) or (2) if there is no such exert in Florida that could handle an issue Baez needs an expert on - unlikely.

Regardless, in any instance where Baez tries to deviate from the JAC guidelines for pay, he will have to seek court permission to exceed JAC guidelines and the JAC attorneys will appear and object. The net result being much more transperancy regarding who is being paid and for what.

In any event, the most interesting thing will be to see whether Baez lists what he was paid for all of Casey's case. Reason being is the JAC rules require you to list all fees being paid for all of client's current cases. It does not require you to list what you were paid for past cases.

Thus I have a sneaking suspicion that Baez will noy divulge what Casey "paid" him for the Check Fraud case, because he technically no longer represents her on the case (under Florida rules of administration, an attorney ceases being attorney of record 30 days after criiminal case is disposed of).

Bottom line though for you all will be nothing but frustration. Because while this motion will raise a million questions about what Casey was paid or how shady Baez is, the bottom line is that Casey Anthony will be declared indigent - no matter how nasty that tastes.

p.s. Baez himself will receive no money from the state. Rather he has to submit invoices to JAC and they pay the vendors directly.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4892435&postcount=213

Thanks for bringing that over, Snaz.

The disturbing part in it is Baez will probably be filing over and over again to the courts to deviate from JAC guidelines and use his own expert witnesses.

Baez doesn't even try to get along.

LottieM wrote:The disturbing part in it is Baez will probably be filing over and over again to the courts to deviate from JAC guidelines and use his own expert witnesses.

You are probably right Lottie. Then all his requests to deviate from JAC guidelines will end up wasting more time and next thing we know, Casey's trial will be pushed back to the summer of 2012.

Justice4all wrote:

LottieM wrote:The disturbing part in it is Baez will probably be filing over and over again to the courts to deviate from JAC guidelines and use his own expert witnesses.

You are probably right Lottie. Then all his requests to deviate from JAC guidelines will end up wasting more time and next thing we know, Casey's trial will be pushed back to the summer of 2012.

It does seem like that. Gotta wonder why Baez isn't concerned about getting this case to trial so his sweetie can go free if she's so innocent and he can prove it.

Exactly!

You also have to wonder why Cindy & George aren't making a little more noise that their darling innocent daughter is unjustly locked up.

Snaz wrote:And if there had been an option to vote "Not no, but HELL no!!!!", I would have chosen that option......

Just for fun, I added a poll to this thread that gives us that option.

Julie wrote:Exactly!

You also have to wonder why Cindy & George aren't making a little more noise that their darling innocent daughter is unjustly locked up.

Right!

What are they trying to do, delay Casey going to prison where the 'ladies' will beat her up?

George and Cindy have never been worried about Casey being in jail for a crime she 'didn't' commit. As soon as she was locked up 'for lying' they were over it!

Sure, they went around telling whatever media would listen that Casey was innocent and they 'believed her 100%" about the nanny kidnapping Caylee, then didn't even try to get the media involved in helping find this nanny. They could have done that. They could have used their media time to say how LE was barking up the wrong tree and they needed help from the public finding this nanny so their darling daughter could get out of jail. Lots of 'guilty' persons appeal to the public that someone else is out there who needs to be found. Scott Peterson did it. Misty Croslin is doing it. The list goes on. Why not George and Cindy or for that matter, why not Baez for Casey?

During the days of George and Cindy putting up command posts and having vigils, it was just a front to pretend they were looking for a living Caylee out there somewhere. Where was the attention to find the nanny? They complained the cops didn't put out a composite sketch of the nanny, but they didn't either! They could have appealed to the public to be on the look out for 'this person' even if they didn't also see Caylee with her. Caylee didn't have to always be with Zanny. Just find that nanny and bring her in! then you'll find Caylee, right?

They're so transparent! It's so obvious they knew there was no nanny and that Casey did something to Caylee. They weren't even shocked when the bones were found in the woods. Even if the bones hadn't been identified yet, it was a child and they had one missing, but they ate crab at the Ritz! Who could have an appetite under those circumstances? Not me! And Baez came for dinner too! And Lee ordered a steak for him. Yum yum, let's eat! The very least they could have done was eat in their room! They don't even try to be discreet about their indifference. They flaunt it as if that somehow should read that they have nothing to hide.

Lottie - you have many great points in your last comment.

Thanks Julie! :)

The state should say hell to the no on this one.

Defense Wants Help Paying For Casey's Defense

Posted: 6:30 pm EST March 5,2010
Updated: 8:07 am EST March 8,2010

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Casey Anthony’s defense team asked a judge Friday to declare her indigent, for some of the costs of her case. Orange County taxpayers would pay for part of the trial, if a judge accepts the motion.

VIDEO REPORT: Taxpayers Could Foot The Bill

“The defense team is faced with extensive costs to defend Miss Anthony, ensure she receives a fair trial, and prevent the State from taking her life. The initial cost estimates for defending Miss Anthony have been far exceeded by the additional costs incurred since the State’s decision to pursue the death penalty. As a result, the defense is seeking state assistance to subsidize the costs of travel, serving subpoenas, hiring experts to interpret evidence and transcripts, deposing in- and out-of-state witnesses and investigating all aspects of the case,” the defense team’s media spokesperson wrote in a release issued early Friday evening.

Eyewitness News found out the fees for Anthony's attorneys would not be included in what taxpayers have to pay.

Since taxpayer dollars could be involved, the judge could question Anthony's attorneys about any possible book or movie deals that may be planned.

If Anthony does have money coming in from any such deals, she would be obligated to reimburse the county.

Anthony has been in jail since October 2008 and faces the death penalty for allegedly murdering her daughter Caylee.

http://www.wftv.com/news/22757843/detail.html

Defendant's Motion For Determination Of Indigency For Costs

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/28249113/Casey-Motion-for-Indigency-03052010

okay... here is MY issue on this..


KC had the right at the beginning of this whole case to be awarded a court appointed attorney. she denied the need, and hired jose baez on her own account.

after all this time, she has had the "benefit" (work with me here) of having her own personally picked attorney. when, if she would have went with the court appointed, he/she would be working a full case load on other clients, and she would get what she would get..

now, she has her personally hand picked defense team, that has devoted all this time and $$ to her defense alone, and NOW she wants to be declared indigent and let the taxpayers foot the bill.....

if this is the case, why on EARTH would ANY defendant EVER take the court appointed attorney?? when they can hand-pick their high profile defense team, and THEN ask the state to foot the bill...????? i know i sure wouldnt take the court appointed either..

this cannot fly.. if they allow KC to keep her high profile defense team, and forcing the tazpayers to pay for it, they are setting precident that they really do not want to set... talk about opening pandora's box..

there is a year until trial, if KC wants to be indigent, she should have to take a court appointed attorney.. no more "scheme team." there is plenty of time for a new attorney to take over the case, for cryin out loud, they havent even taken a depo yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will we learn more about the defense money?

posted by halboedeker on March, 8 2010 5:40 PM

What about the mystery of Casey Anthony’s finances?

Answers are likely after the defense team moved to seek partial indigent status for her means. She is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

WESH-Channel 2’s Bob Kealing summed up the situation this afternoon: “Although she spent more than $100,000 on legal fees from some mystery source, Casey Anthony has filed new court papers saying that she’s broke and needs taxpayers’ help.” About $90,000 of that money went to defense attorney Jose Baez.

WFTV-Channel 9’s Kathi Belich pointed to “the only known source which could have brought that kind of cash”: Disney-owned ABC. Belich said it isn’t known what Anthony paid to some defense members, such as Linda Kenney Baden.

WKMG-Channel 6’s Tony Pipitone also pointed to television networks that paid fees for photographs and video. A legal analyst said there is nothing illegal about that arrangement because Anthony has not been convicted.

No date has been set for a hearing on the indigency issue, Belich added.

WKMG anchor Mike Garofalo stressed costs — not attorney’s fees — are the issue. “Our legal analyst predicts, though, predicts [Judge Stan] Strickland will approve that request because denying it could be seen as preventing Casey from getting the defense she needs in a death-penalty case,” Garofalo said. “Lawyers tell us the costs could reach half a million dollars before it’s all over.”

Orlando attorney Richard Hornsby, who provides legal analysis for WESH, described the indigent process as strict and said it will force transparency in the case.

“The public has a right to know how the private attorneys were paid,” Hornsby said. “At the hearing, they will say, ‘Judge, before you can declare her indigent, under the statute you have to make him [Baez] disclose the source of his funds,’ and so that is going to happen.”

Public defender Bob Wesley told WESH that indigency means full disclosure is required in the spending of state money.

“There will not be a whole lot of visibility until the process is over because otherwise you’d be disclosing what steps you’re taking to the presentation of your defense,” Wesley said.

Judge Stan Strickland also set a date for the start of the murder trial: May 9, 2011, barring further delays.

Strickland has said a decision on a change of venue is coming. Oscar Hotusing, a former judge and a legal analyst for WOFL-Channel 35, predicted a change is “highly probable” because of heavy media coverage.

WKMG’s Mike DeForest reported on the defense team’s motions, filed today, to keep certain things out of the trial: Cindy Anthony’s 911 call, other statements made by George and Cindy Anthony, and photographs of Casey Anthony partying. “The defense is trying to limit the number of bad things that the jury could hear about Casey Anthony,” DeForest said.

WFTV also reported that the prosecution had released two CDs of evidence to the defense team. They include 300 pages of documents plus information about Joy Wray, a Seminole woman who said she has knowledge of the case, anchor Martie Salt said.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2010/03/casey-anthony-will-we-learn-more-about-the-defense-money.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Casey Anthony is considered to be indigent
Clerk of Courts finds she meets the guidelines.

By Sarah Lundy, Orlando Sentinel
5:57 p.m. EST, March 9, 2010

Casey Anthony is considered to be indigent by the Orange County Clerk of Courts, according to documents filed this afternoon.

This is the first step needed for Casey Anthony to get state financial help to pay for her defense. Her indigent status allows her access to certain costs, such as hiring expert witnesses and investigators.

However, Orange Circuit Court Judge Stan Stickland will have to approve these costs.

Casey Anthony, 23, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony. On Dec. 11, 2008 — five months after she was reported missing — remains of the two-year-old were found in woods near her family home. Authorities ruled her death a homicide but could not determine her cause of death.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. The trial is scheduled to begin in May 2011.

Casey Anthony filed documents last week, saying two of her attorneys have run up a $112,000 bill for their work. In the motion, Casey Anthony claims she doesn't have enough money to pay for her defense. She has no income, no savings and no assets.

Experts say this is not an uncommon request in complicated death penalty cases.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-casey-anthony-indigent-20100309,0,4154128.story

So I guess they've used up all the Caylee blood money they could accumulate. The high profile attorneys and experts have achieved their goal. FAME, notoriety and book sales...sickening

This is not a surprise... I think we all expected this would be approved. And JS will also approve it. Thankfully, though, there will be limits and the defense WILL have to account for the monies they spend!