Casey Anthony: What does judge’s big no mean? - Hal

Casey Anthony: What does judge’s big no mean?

Chief Judge Belvin Perry late today denied a new hearing to Casey Anthony’s team. The judge rejected the defense motion, filed Thursday, that he was wrong and biased when he ruled that Anthony’s early statements to her family and law enforcement will be admitted at trial.

What does the latest development mean?

WFTV-Channel 9’s Kathi Belich said, “Our legal analyst believes the only reason the defense would make these kinds of accusations at this time is because they want to bounce another judge or get a delay in the trial while they try.”

Belich noted that Perry is the second judge on the case after Stan Strickland. She sought a response from defense attorney Jose Baez about the ruling, but said that WFTV hadn’t heard from him.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said the defense team’s language on the latest motion echoed the language they used in getting Strickland off the case. “The defense doesn’t get a ruling they like, what do they do? They attack the judge,” Sheaffer said.

On WKMG-Channel 6, legal analyst Mark O’Mara focused on the defense’s accusation that Perry had shown bias. “If they truly believe he is biased, they should file the motion to recuse,” O’Mara said. “If they don’t believe he is biased and don’t have good facts to support it, you’re not supposed to say it. It would be improper.”

WKMG’s Tony Pipitone reported that the defense hadn’t asked Perry to remove himself from the case. Pipitone added that O’Mara saw no facts in attorney Cheney Mason’s motion to prove bias.

WESH-Channel 2 anchor Jim Payne characterized the latest ruling as a big blow for the defense. “Minutes ago, the judge issued an order stating that he is sticking by his original ruling and Casey’s statements will be admitted,” Payne said

The story broke about 10 minutes before 5 tonight. WFTV put it at the top of its 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. Anthony is accused of first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee. The trial is scheduled to start in May.

At 6 o’clock, WFTV’s Belich turned to Perry’s record: She found that just one of his rulings in 10 years was partially overturned. She reported that he has sentenced eight murderers to death, and the Florida Supreme Court affirmed all those sentences.

WFTV legal analyst Sheaffer described Perry as “a jurist of great stature. In Florida, the appellate judges know him, they know his record and they’re not about to be drawn into some defense charade in order to get a continuance in this case.”

WKMG anchor Lauren Rowe also reported that Perry rejected another defense motion to reconsider his decision to let a plant expert testify. That expert says that root growth can help determine how long the toddler’s remains were in the woods.

In other Anthony matters, a rumor was circulating that HLN might have some special deal with George and Cindy Anthony, the parents of Casey Anthony. An HLN spokeswoman said the channel has no special deal with the family and there have been no secret negotiations with the Anthonys.


http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/03/casey-anthony-what-does-judges-big-no-mean.html