Judge Recuses Himself From Casey Anthony Civil Case - WKMG

Judge Recuses Himself From Casey Anthony Civil Case
Anthony, 25, Found Not Guilty Of Murder In Criminal Case

POSTED: Friday, July 15, 2011
UPDATED: 8:40 am EDT July 15, 2011

Excerpt:

ORLANDO, Fla. -- For unknown reasons, the judge in the civil lawsuit against Casey Anthony recused himself from the case on Friday.

Judge Jose Rodriguez made the announcement shortly after the 8 a.m. hearing began.

Zenaida Gonzalez, who shares the same name as a fictitious baby sitter whom Casey Anthony said kidnapped her daughter, Caylee, in 2008, is suing Anthony for defamation.

The move came after Anthony's attorney called for a sidebar, where attorneys from both sides talked with the judge for about 15 minutes.

Gonzalez's attorney said he did not request the recusal.

More: http://www.clickorlando.com/news/28557437/detail.html

Judge Recuses Self In Civil Lawsuit Against Casey
Posted: 6:20 pm EDT July 13, 2011
Updated: 8:58 am EDT July 15, 2011

Excerpt:

ORLANDO, Fla. -- For unknown reasons, the judge recused himself from the civil lawsuit against Casey Anthony after an emergency hearing was held Friday.

The emergency hearing was held after a motion was filed to require Casey Anthony to give a deposition in a civil suit brought by a woman who is suing her for defamation. But, the attorneys representing Casey in her civil case filed a motion and told the court she is too exhausted to handle a deposition right now. Casey did not attend the hearing.

Judge Jose Rodriguez called court to order promptly at 8 a.m. to discuss the motions filed to compel the deposition and for protective orders. The attorneys for both sides were in a sidebar with the judge for about 15 minutes.

Rodriguez then recused himself from the case, but he wouldn't say why. The case will now get a new judge.

More: http://www.wftv.com/news/28538723/detail.html

New judge coming in Casey Anthony civil case after short emergency hearing
By Jacqueline Fell and Adam Longo, Reporter
Last Updated: Friday, July 15, 2011 8:52 AM

Excerpt:

ORLANDO --

An emergency hearing Friday morning in the Casey Anthony civil case was over in less than 20 minutes.

The hearing, mostly conducted in sidebar, ended with Judge Jose Rodriguez saying the court will assign a new judge to preside over the civil case brought on by Zenaida Gonzalez, the woman who said Casey ruined her life after claiming a nanny by the same name took her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, in 2008.

Casey's civil attorney, Charles Greene, would not comment on who filed the motion.

Keith Mitnik, an attorney with the firm Morgan & Morgan representing Zenaida Gonzalez, said they did not ask the judge to step down.

More: http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/july/279069/New-judge-coming-in-Casey-Anthony-civil-case-after-short-emergency-hearing

Casey Anthony: Judge removes himself from civil case after private discussion with attorneys
Judge Jose Rodriguez said another judge will handle the defamation case against Anthony. But he didn't say why.

Excerpt:

Amy Pavuk and Walter Pacheco, Orlando Sentinel

8:42 a.m. EDT, July 15, 2011

An emergency hearing this morning in Casey Anthony's civil case ended quickly: Attorneys spoke privately and the judge announced he is removing himself from the case.

Judge Jose Rodriguez said another judge will handle the defamation case against Anthony. But he didn't say why.

Attorneys involved in the case left the courtroom and have revealed nothing about what happened during their private discussion with the judge.

MOre: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/caylee-anthony/os-casey-anthony-zenaida-hearing-20110715,0,2345306.story