Casey Anthony trial: Jose Baez has a history of Florida Bar complaints - OS

Casey Anthony trial: Jose Baez has a history of Florida Bar complaints
Judges also expressed concerns
8:36 p.m. EDT, June 20, 2011

Excerpt:

Since taking on Casey Anthony's defense, Jose Baez has been targeted by several Florida Bar inquiries:

In September 2009, the Bar cleared Baez of an ethical complaint accusing him of getting paid inappropriately in the case.

In September 2009, the Bar cleared Baez of ethics allegations made by private investigator Dominic Casey, who claimed he was never paid by Baez. He also said the attorney told him to walk away from Caylee's remains if he ever found them and contact Baez. Both complaints were dismissed based on insufficient evidence.

Judge Stan Strickland, the original judge assigned to the case, penned a letter to the Bar related to the Dominic Casey incident, also resulting in no formal action against Baez. In the letter, Strickland wrote of the allegations, "If truthful, they are extremely troubling."

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The Florida Bar initiated its own investigation into Baez after the State Attorney's Office faxed news releases that seemed to be generated on his behalf by his former spokesman that were critical of State Attorney Lawson Lamar. The Bar found no disciplinary proceedings against Baez were appropriate.

The Florida Bar confirmed a separate complaint against Baez in early February. Specific details about that complaint have not been released, and as of Monday, a spokeswoman for the Bar said the matter was still pending.

In addition, in early January, Judge Belvin Perry hit Baez with a $583.73 fine after finding him in "willful" violation of his court order to share expert-witness testimony with prosecutors.

Amy Pavuk and Anthony Colarossi

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/caylee-anthony/os-casey-anthony-trial-day-23-box-20110620,0,7544327.story