Cheney Mason

"Game Changing" Attorney Introduced At Casey Hearing

Updated: 11:40 am EDT March 18,2010

http://www.wftv.com/news/22876305/detail.html

ORLANDO, Fla. -- 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 has now joined the defense team (visit his website).

“You do not come any larger than J Cheney Mason,” WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said.

Mason is one of the top defense attorney's in the country. He has tried 50 murder cases successfully and is a part of a number of anti-death penalty organizations.

“[Cheney] is a founding father of the Central Florida Criminal Defense Association,” WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer told WFTV. “This is a game changer.”

“I’ve been asked to join and I’m doing it pro bono,” Mason said in court during the Thursday morning hearing. “We’re just seeking confirmation of Ms. Anthony’s indigency and I don’t think that should be in question.”

Affidavits show Casey has already paid more than $100,000 in legal fees to her team that includes Jose Baez and Andrea Lyon. Most defendants who are declared indigent get a public defender, but because Casey and her lawyers have already established a relationship she would get to keep them.

If Casey's request is granted by the judge, her team does not just get a blank check. She will only get money for state-approved expenses, like investigators and court reporters. Also, if the judge thinks Baez has misspent any of the money he has made, the lawyer could have to fund some of his own services.

The addition of Cheney to Casey's defense could mean there will be more changes, including the dismissal of Andrea Lyon. However, that has not been announced.

"J Cheney Mason absolutely believes he can win this case. I would liken this case to the OJ Simpson case," Sheaffer said.

Meanwhile, WFTV has learned that the 'secret' evidence the prosecution had withheld from the defense was unsealed by the judge Thursday morning (read judge's order), but a motion was quickly filed by the prosecution to hold it for another 30 days (read new motion).

According to information provided by the State in a motion to block the judge’s Thursday release of the evidence, “the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by an inmate in the Florida Department of Correction, who stated that she had communications with the Defendant while in the Orange County Jail.”

According to the State’s motion, “that inmate was interviewed on or about the 22nd day of January 2010 and relayed potentially relevant statements by the Defendant, which are not in the nature of a confession, and gave the name of another inmate who also had communication with the Defendant. The second inmate, presently incarcerated in Federal Prison, was interviewed on or about the 27th day of January 2010 and reluctantly confirmed communication with the Defendant adding that she had received approximately fifty written communications from the Defendant which were then in the possession of another individual whose identity was provided to the Orange County Sheriffs Office.”

The motion goes on to reveal that the State believes “the documents ... appear to contain relevant statements of the Defendant,” but do not include a confession.

The State continues, “In a subsequent the interview with F.D.L.E. on February 12 2010, the federal inmate detailed how her friendship with the Defendant began and developed, how the documents came into existence, were transmitted and were maintained. She stated the friendship and all communication ended when she was transferred to federal custody. She stated that the friendship was not at the request of any law enforcement personnel nor was she asked to relay any information obtained to any law enforcement personnel. She did imply that an Orange County Corrections officer may have facilitated the communication once the friendship had begun but indicated a desire not to ‘get anyone in trouble.’”

The State’s motion asks for an additional delay in the release of the documents, stating that “it is anticipated that the investigation should be completed within the next thirty days and that any premature revelation of these matters could compromise the integrity of the investigation case.”

This is DEVELOPING.

Anthony Appears In Court, New Attorney Added
Accused Murderer Goes Before Judge Thursday Regarding Financing Defense

POSTED: 6:22 am EDT March 18, 2010
UPDATED: 12:29 am EDT March 19, 2010

ORLANDO, Fla. -- During an indigency hearing Thursday morning in the Casey Anthony case, a prominent lawyer was introduced as part of Anthony's defense team.

Cheney Mason, a long-time Orlando defense attorney, has joined the Anthony defense.

Mason announced to the court that he would defend Anthony at no cost.

Attorneys for Anthony, who is charged with murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee, said she can't afford the costs of the trial.

"I can tell you there is no money and she is indigent," Mason told Judge Stan Strickland.

The judge said more information was needed about Casey's court costs in the past.

"My problem is, you're seeking public funds...but I don't have much about the source of what happened in the past," Strickland said.

"The lawyers are appearing pro bono, so therefore, it's nobody's business about what we're doing and not doing," Mason said.

Strickland said the affidavit was insufficient and that "how money was spent in the past does have a bearing on what I intend to do now."

Both the state and Anthony's defense attorneys will talk about her financial problems.

Jose Baez, Anthony's lead attorney, said that since the state changed its direction to the possibility of a death sentence, Anthony's defense got even more expensive.

Baez said his client was willing and able to pay for her defense until the state changed their position and decided to pursue the death penalty.

In the past, Anthony paid Baez $90,000 in fees and Andrea Lyon, another of her defense attorneys, $20,000 for services.

WESH 2 has pressed Baez as to where the money came from, but he said he won't discuss the issue of money, citing ethical violation.

It is unknown whether Judge Stan Strickland will ask Anthony to talk more about where the money came from Thursday in court.

George Anthony is also expected to attend the hearing. Recently, a woman claiming to be his mistress said he told her Caylee's death was just an accident.

Casey Anthony's father denied the affair and the accident statement through his attorney.

Anthony, 23, is charged with first-degree murder. The remains of her daughter, Caylee, were found in a wooded area near the Anthony home in Dec. 2008. Anthony maintains that a nanny by the name of Zenaida Gonzalez kidnapped Caylee.

She will turn 24 years old on Friday.

http://www.wesh.com/news/22874392/detail.html

I dislike this snot-face attorney. He is supposedly retiring, and taking this case on pro bono FOR FUN. I hope Caylee Marie Angelbabe latches on to him, invades his soul, and torments his dreams for the rest of his life.
"Fame or Fortune and now, Fun" against "Justice for Caylee".

I couldn't believe that when he said this case was going to be fun! Hello! What is fun about a trial involving a murdered 2 year old?! Yikes!

Is this "Cheney" any relation to the DICK Cheney of the Bush assn.?

Julie wrote:I couldn't believe that when he said this case was going to be fun! Hello! What is fun about a trial involving a murdered 2 year old?! Yikes!

OMG! I missed him saying that! There're no words for how awful that is! Maybe Karma will get him one day and someone will think it's fun to help someone who did something to him or one of his loved ones. He'd probably be the first one screaming about how awful it is to say it's fun. It's like serial killers who kill in horrendous ways, then start begging for mercy for themselves not to be yanked by the arm too hard > "Don't hurt me!"

Lottie it was way at the end of the video, when the nightmare team was being interviewed outside.

i could tell by listening to the way he chose to address the court yesterday, that this "game changer" is disrespectful and has SERIOUS entitlement issues.. he will fit right in.

anyone that would call the murder trial over a 2 year old little girl needs their head examined and life long therapy... may i suggest shock therapy.. that was truly offensive.

It certainly is offensive, randilynn! If there's a definition for pure evil, that should be it!

I think this man is horrendous as well. Fun?? OMG, what a POS. Yes, he WILL fit right in with this whole clan. I don't think Judge Strickland was too happy with him. In the beginning, I saw Stricklands face when this clown said "Well, YOU TRUST ME DON'T YOU?" Judge Strickland looked as if he almost wanted to laugh.

I couldn't believe all the laughing that was going on in the court room as well. It was like a bad version of "Night Court".

I just hope this new clown pisses off Strickland as he did most of us.

I want Strickland to lower the boom on the defense for not having what they need to conduct a proper hearing. They had to know they'd have to show proof of where the money went. And if they're so stupid they didn't know that, then too bad because they should have known. They act like they bought their law degrees at Walmart! I want Strickland to tell them to stop wasting the court's time by coming unprepared for trial and delaying things unnecessarily, and if they do again he's going to hold them in contempt or something.

I had to go to court once and my lawyer came unprepared saying he had more stuff he just didn't bring it. It was the exact same thing like Baez did, when the plaintiff's council brought up certain points my lawyer hadn't thought about, he then claimed he could answer that but he didn't bring the necessary info with him to prove it. The judge told him he was ruling based on what he'd brought - which was not enough to prove my case- and was going to assume that's all he had because he should have known better. I lost because of it! After the verdict, the judge told him if he ever came to his court again unprepared for trial he was going to hold him in contempt for deliberately delaying proceedings and pointed out that it wasn't the first time this lawyer had done that. I don't know if that's legal, but he said it. He bawled him out for being lazy too!

Baez is forever delaying things, sometimes I think just to be doing it. Yesterday when the judge gave him 5 days to look over the no-longer-secret material, Baez just had to ask for 15! Why not 10? Why not 5? All the judge wanted in 5 days was for Baez to file a motion to keep certain things from going pubic if he wanted to. Doesn't seem like a 2 week endeavor for someone who claims he hasn't got any other cases to work on.

I completely agree with you Lottie. I think that Strickland is just being cautious so that there is no "legal" leeway for an appeal.

I agree, Fysty. Poor Strickland is having to strain his brain like crazy! He's doing a great job though! After this he should be nominated for the Supreme Court! LOL

All Baez had done since the beginning is try to set this case up for appeal. It's probably all he's got if he hopes to win this. Or else, he's just stupid! :)

I dread the trial in a way, because Baez is probably not going to stop trying to set the case up for appeal and the trial is going to be so full of objections and sidebars and delays.

I think he's "just stupid"!

I was shocked when this new lawyer told JS that it was
nobody's business when JS said he wanted to know how the
money already received was spent. He was basically telling the judge that it was "none of his business". He was completely disrespectfull and condecending toward Judge Strickland and the court. KC with her smirks making faces and laughing made me wish I could slap her. Why is murdering her daughter so funny? Is it because this new
lawyer has made her think now she's going to get away with
it?

They are making a mockery of the court and a murdered 2 year old. It is disgusting. KC acts like she's on a freaking field trip. Strickland has patience, and he's going to follow the book.

The "show" that Mason put on, swearing in the lion and bozo to testify was arrogant and just a "cheap slick trick"
and I hope it backfires and bites them in the ass.

I haven't been posting on here because it all just makes me so upset. Everything that is being done to save the shell of a human that murdered her daughter is a waste of time and money. That poor little girl lost her life and her whiny mother-murderer just smiles through it all.

KC is just a spoiled rotten turd.

Now, I'm going to go back to reading only and not posting.

Found this at Hinky.

Where do you find attorney case records on the Florida Clerk’s office? The only thing I found on Orange County myclerk system, shows that James Cheney Mason is a drunk.
http://myclerk.myorangeclerk.com/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=5159342

I just noticed at MD's he has RC on his sidebar under "Anthony Connections".