Can Jose Baez Rise To The Challenge?

Can José Baez rise to the challenge of Casey Anthony case?

January 08, 2011|
For almost as long as the Casey Anthony murder case has been a part of the
public awareness, there have been murmurs about her attorney José Baez's
handling of the case. They're all variations on the same theme:
that Baez, a defense lawyer with limited experience working on perhaps
one of the most visible local murder cases, is swimming in waters — and
taking on legal challenges — beyond his depth. For many, the
latest but most vivid example to support this lingering suspicion came
nearly one week ago when Chief Judge Belvin Perry struck Baez with a
sanction for a "willful" violation of his court order to share
expert-witness discovery with prosecutors. Defense lawyers and legal scholars familiar with the Casey Anthony
case say sharing discovery in Florida is like "Criminal Law 101,"
helping ensure there is no "trial by ambush." Following a judge's
repeated orders, meanwhile, is even more fundamental, something readily
understood by lawyers and nonlawyers alike. William Sheaffer, a
criminal-defense attorney and media analyst well-versed in the Casey
Anthony case, said the judge's punishment last week "doesn't speak well
of Baez on a professional level." "There is a valid criticism —
and it was certainly reflected by the court's ruling — by attorneys, the
judges, law professors …," Sheaffer said, that Baez "is inexperienced,
perhaps has some hubris that's not warranted and that, more importantly,
he has failed to rise to the challenge of representation of this client
and the most serious charge one could face."

Cont'd
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-01-08/news/os-jose-baez-outside-depth-20110107_1_casey-anthony-case-murder-case-caylee-marie