Defense Out Of Money? KC Files For Indigent Status

Casey Anthony wants state to help pay for defense

By Jean Casarez, In SessionMarch 17, 2010 7:39 a.m. EDT

Orlando, Florida (CNN/In Session) -- Casey Anthony is headed back to court in Orlando, Florida on Thursday -- this time to tell a judge she has run out of money and needs state funding for costs associated with her upcoming murder trial.

Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, and has pleaded not guilty. Her trial is scheduled to begin on May 9, 2011. The state is seeking the death penalty if she is convicted.

Caylee Anthony's body was found in a lot near her grandparents' home in December 2008. The grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony, have been supportive of Casey Anthony but now are fighting foreclosure, according to a complaint filed by Bank of America.

What is usually a routine application to the clerk to declare Casey Anthony indigent and provide money for her defense may become a contentious issue during Thursday's court hearing.

The Justice Administrative Commission, the state agency that oversees funding, has voiced opposition, saying in court papers it has "severe concerns" about whether Anthony qualifies for financial assistance.

"Miss Anthony has received no income during the time she has been incarcerated," her defense maintains.

Jose Baez, Anthony's lead defense attorney, and Chicago death penalty attorney Andrea Lyon argue in their four-page motion that they are not asking the state to pay their legal fees but to assist with funding for other costs to defend Anthony.

Miss Anthony has received no income during the time she has been incarcerated.


As the case headed to trial, the state released thousands of pages of discovery documents. The defense is seeking help with costs that include service of subpoenas, investigative costs, travel, fees charged by experts to interpret forensic evidence, expert witness fees and the cost of depositions.

Baez, Lyon and Linda Kenney Baden are representing Anthony at her trial. According to the defense motion, Lyon will be appearing pro bono -- in other words, free of charge.

The defense attorneys argue in their court papers that Anthony is entitled to financial assistance under the constitution's Sixth Amendment, which protects her right to a fair trial.

Because prosecutors have indicated they are seeking the death penalty, Anthony also is entitled to "the unique standard of care required for a capital defense," the attorneys assert.

Financial affidavits released by the court, in what appears to be Casey Anthony's handwriting, estimates fees paid to Baez at $89,454.83. Lyon's fees are estimated at $22,500. In the affidavits, Casey Anthony says the fees for both attorneys "were or are being paid by myself."

Anthony notes that her income is "zero" and her assets are "zero." She did not list her debts or liabilities.

According to the legal papers, money earmarked to pay Lyon has been used to cover costs, and she has not been paid. "She has been and continues to appear pro bono," the motion states.

The central focus of the commission's response appears to be based on Anthony's own financial affidavit: "Because the defendant has been able to provide over $110,000.00 in her defense, the JAC has severe concerns regarding the defendant's indigence."

Their response cites Florida law, which requires the court to consider "when applicant retained private counsel" and "the amount of any attorney's fees and who is paying the fees."

In regard to travel expenses, the response states that counsel will need to properly complete a travel voucher, but also states that "JAC does not pay for reimbursement of travel expenses for privately retained counsel."

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/17/florida.casey.anthony.broke/?hpt=Sbin

Public: Don't give Casey Anthony money

Drew Petrimoulx
March 17, 2010 7:38 PM

Casey Anthony will be back in Orange County court Thursday morning where her attorneys will ask for public money to fund the defense.

But the Judicial Administrative Commission questions whether the accused child killer is truly broke.

Public defenders like Orange County's Bob Wesley are used to asking for taxpayer money to mount a defense.

"There is a fund appropriated by the legislature for cases like this," he told WDBO.

State statue allocates $15,000 in public money for indigent defendants to fight capital cases. But they're usually tried by court-appointed attorneys.

Casey Anthony wants to keep her private attorneys and get taxpayer money to fund their investigation, an uncommon arrangement according to Wesley.

WDBO asked folks outside the courthouse what they thought about giving public money to Casey's defense.

"She doesn't deserve it," said a woman named Nicola. "She should have to pay for everything."

Diana Evans echoed her thoughts.

"I don't think that she deserves any help," she said.

The state board in charge of doling out public money for indigent defendants seems to agree.

The Justice Administrative Commission will be in court Wednesday asking how it's possible that Casey doesn't have enough money to fund her defense when she has already paid her lawyers over $100,000.

http://wdbo.com/localnews/2010/03/public-dont-give-casey-anthony.html

Casey Anthony's source of money revealed at hearing

Last Update: 4:44 pm

ORANGE COUNTY, FL -- Casey Anthony's defense team publicly revealed at an indigency hearing Thursday why taxpayers should pick up a portion of her legal tab.

They said she is broke.

But where did the money come from up until recently? "The American Broadcasting Company," said lead attorney Jose Baez after being pressed by Circuit Judge Stan Strickland and prosecutors.

Baez said ABC paid Casey $200,000. He said those funds have been exhausted and that a total of $275,000 has been spent so far. He said another $70,000 came from an attorney who is no longer on the defense team. $5,000 was a private donation.

Baez said he has no knowledge of any future TV or book deals.

Last week, the Orange County Clerk of Court found Casey to be indigent.

But judge Strickland wanted more details about how the money was distributed. "How money was spent in the past does have a bearing on what I intend to do now," he said.

Strickland decided to defer his ruling, which is expected on Friday.

Casey was present at Thursday's hearing, but did not speak.

Before the proceedings began, it was revealed that well-known Orlando defense attorney Cheney Mason has joined the defense team. He told the court that he is working pro bono.

"You do not come any larger than J. Cheney Mason," legal analyst Bill Sheaffer told WFTV. "This is a game changer."

Casey is accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony, in 2008.

Sources: wftv.com, orlandosentinel.com

http://www.abcactionnews.com/content/news/local/story/Casey-Anthonys-source-of-money-revealed-at-hearing/2TYqSbjtqk-uVtRGJ9gWIA.cspx

Judge delays ruling on whether Casey Anthony is indigent
March 18, 2010

ORLANDO -- A judge on Thursday asked Casey Anthony's defense team to explain how attorneys have spent nearly $300,000 before ruling whether Anthony can be declared indigent.

Orange County Circuit Court Judge Stan Strickland presided over the hearing and asked the defense to provide an itemized list by Friday detailing how they have spent the $275,000 Anthony has already paid in fees and costs.

It was disclosed in court on Thursday that ABC paid Anthony $200,000. Of the remaining money, $5,000 came from a donor whom Baez did not identify and $70,000 was given by California-based attorney Todd Macaluso, who has since said he has withdrawn from Anthony's case. Baez said Macaluso provided the funds to help defray defense costs.

Strickland said he will decide if the state should pay for Anthony's defense costs after reviewing the list.

Attorney Cheney Mason, who recently joined the defense team, said the public defender's office cannot afford to pay for the case, and Anthony's defense team will work pro bono.

"There are some expenses we have to have to give her due process," Mason said.

Attorney Andrea Lyon, a death penalty expert, testified that none of Anthony's money remains.

She said she has spent at least 1,000 hours working on the case, not counting the hours of the 14 students in her DePaul law class that she has working on the case with her.

Jose Baez also said the money that Anthony has provided has already been spent on fees and costs related to the case. Those costs will now have to be explained.

Anthony, who turns 24 years old on Friday, remains jailed on first-degree murder charges in the death of her daughter, Caylee, whose remains were found in an Orange County wooded lot in December 2008. Caylee was 2 years old when she was reported missing about five months earlier. Anthony has pleaded not guilty.

The Justice Administrative Commission, which is in charge of public funds used in criminal cases, said it has severe concerns with Anthony's claims.

Indigent requests are not unheard of in murder cases, though most defendants are found indigent early in the process.

Meanwhile, new evidence that the state of Florida did not want Anthony’s defense team to see immediately has been unsealed.

The judge gave the state 30 days to check out claims by another inmate that Anthony had told her things relevant to the case.

Prosecutors said the inmate also pointed them to a second inmate who had about 50 written notes from Anthony.

The state said the notes and conversations are relevant to the case but added that they are not a confession from Anthony.

Baez has 15 days to review the new evidence and decide if the defense will ask the court to block its release.

Also, the state attorney's office told Local 6 that it will be releasing about 1,000 pages of new documents in the case later this week or next week. It's not clear, though, what information the documents contain.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100318/BREAKINGNEWS/100318003/1086/Judge+delays+ruling+on+whether+Casey+Anthony+is+indigent

Another doc dump, can't wait.

OK Judge S....declare Casey indecent, indolent and indigent, but let's hear the details of who she "paid" from all the blood money she was paid for pics of the child she murdered.

Cali wrote:OK Judge S....declare Casey indecent, indolent and indigent, but let's hear the details of who she "paid" from all the blood money she was paid for pics of the child she murdered.

they can start by explaining how she's broke if ABC gave her $200,000 and she's only spent about $112,000 on her defense so far.

Casey Anthony defense budget challenged by state agency

By Anthony Colarossi, Orlando Sentinel
2:14 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2010

The state agency funding Casey Anthony's criminal defense is challenging many of the recent requests the defense team has made for certain costs in the case.

Casey Anthony attorneys, Jose Baez and Ann E. Finnell, filed a motion to set a "reasonable budget" for the "penalty phase" of the case.

They've requested costs for: a private investigator not to exceed $5,000; a psychiatrist or psychologist at a "reasonable hourly rate" not to exceed $7,500; costs for copying medical and school records not to exceed $1,000 and an additional 100 hours for a mitigation specialist at a "previously approved rate."

They've also requested travel expenses and lodging for Finnell, not to exceed $4,000; travel expenses for an investigator or mitigation specialist to go to Ohio with lodging and expenses not to exceed $1,500; and travel expenses and lodging for Finnell from Jacksonville to Orlando at approved rates if the case goes to trial.

The Justice Administrative Commission is authorized to pay "due process" costs in the case. The JAC recently filed a 9-page response, challenging many of the defense team's specific requests.

Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-casey-anthony-defense-costs-challe20101018,0,4182604.story

That sure looks pretty cut and dried to me...I guess there will be a hearing...I can't wait to hear the arguments...after all "things are different in a DP case"...seems like we've heard that song before...

Prosecutors File Motion In Anthony Case
Motion Seeks Information On Defense Funds

UPDATED: 2:31 pm EST November 22, 2010

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Prosecutors in the case against Casey Anthony have filed a motion to learn more about defense funds.

In a motion to compel additional discovery, prosecutor Jeff Ashton asked for a variety of information about the defense team's expert witnesses.

The motion asks for records of contracts and expected compensation, as well as bills that have been submitted and paid.

Read The Motion

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/caseyanthony/25878060/detail.html

Way to go Mr. Ashton!!! We the people of the State of Florida demand to know exactly where our money has/is gone/going...This should clarify a bunch of questions and give the State a leg up...A lot is included in this request/motion...We want answers!!!

I thought it was wonderful the way the motion was worded. JA sure is hip to all the DT's antics. He was sure to specify, ANYONE that has worked for the defense, past or present.

How Is Casey's Defense Team Spending Taxpayer Money?

Posted: 4:32 pm EST November 25, 2010Updated: 6:24 pm EST November 25, 2010

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- WFTV read through 322 pages of financial documents Thursday, detailing exactly how Casey Anthony's defense team is spending Orange County taxpayer money. WFTV learned the defense is spending a lot on what prosecutors believe is a wild goose chase.

VIDEO REPORT: Taxpayer Money In Casey Case

In the documents, the defense spent thousands of tax money on talking to EquuSearch volunteers, many of whom they've apparently admitted behind the scenes that they didn't need to talk to.

Casey Anthony's defense team claims to have found 150 new EquuSearch witnesses who searched the exact area where Caylee Anthony's remains were found, months before that, and sent its private investigator, Jeremy Lyons, to talk to them.

He billed taxpayers almost $8,000 in September and October. After all that tax money was spent, prosecutor Linda Drane Brudick told the judge the number of new possible witnesses was greatly exaggerated publicly by the defense.

"When I asked Mr. Mason about that he told me he believed there would be 6 to10 individuals that may qualify as having relevant information,"

Defense expert Dr. Henry Lee has billed state taxpayers more than $8,000 for three days worth of work and travel from Connecticut. He claimed to be giving taxpayers a 50 percent discount and months ago, defense attorney Cheney Mason told a judge that Lee would be willing to work for oranges.

Read more: http://www.wftv.com/news/25921057/detail.html

Casey Anthony defense gets $4,500 for experts, other costs

The Justice Administrative Commission has already paid out $41,654.69 for Anthony's defense.

By Anthony Colarossi, Orlando Sentinel
9:45 a.m. EST, February 25, 2011

Chief Judge Belvin Perry this morning approved additional payments to help defend accused killer Casey Anthony.

During a brief hearing, Perry approved $4,500 for mitigation-expert costs and videoconferencing for expert witnesses.

Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/caylee-anthony/os-casey-anthony-friday-hearing-20110225,0,3608910.story