Judge puts funding of Casey Anthony's defense off-limits for now

Sarah Lundy |Sentinel Staff Writer March 26, 2009
The public may never learn how Casey Anthony is paying for her high-powered legal defense.

Circuit Judge Stan Strickland ruled Wednesday that he saw no reason to expose the defense team's finances.

Prosecutors had asked for a look to ensure that lawyer José Baez was
not playing two roles for Anthony: defense attorney and story agent.
This would be a conflict of interest, and Anthony could raise it on
appeal, Assistant State Attorney Jeff Ashton argued.

"There is minefield in the path of this case," he said. "We are not trying to embarrass Mr. Baez."

Anthony's case has attracted international attention, spawning blogs,
magazine articles and constant coverage on cable television. Even
before she was charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee
Marie, rumors circulated of possible movies and book deals.

Before her arrest in July, Anthony, 23, had no assets. Prosecutors
assume Baez and at least eight other attorneys and various experts
lined up for her defense are not working for free.

Baez told the judge that he and the New York-based defense attorney
working with him, Linda Kenney Baden, have retainer agreements with
Anthony. Neither, however, has any literary rights to Anthony's story,
Baez said.

He accused prosecutors of trying to learn more about his defense
tactics, such as which experts have been hired and for how much.

Criminalist Henry Lee is one of the experts working on the case. Lee became well-known as a defense expert during O.J. Simpson's trial in 1995. His testimony on how police handled blood evidence helped win Simpson's acquittal.

Baez argued Wednesday that the state doesn't have the right to get "some type of insight into our defense."

Strickland briefly questioned Anthony in court about a document she
signed that mentioned her retainer agreement with Baez. She confirmed
that she has not given Baez any rights to her story.

The judge then recessed the hearing to discuss possible conflicts of interest behind closed doors.

The courtroom remained quiet during the five-minute break. Anthony's parents, George and Cindy Anthony, sat in the second row.

When the group returned, Strickland said he was "convinced" no conflict exists.

Referring to various leaks to the media, Baez asked Strickland to
remind everyone that what happens behind closed doors is not public.

Ashton appeared to be offended, saying he doesn't need an ethical reminder.

Strickland responded by telling the bickering lawyers, "This is getting old. I'm tired of this."

After Strickland's ruling, Baez left the courtroom and spoke with reporters.

"We are glad this is behind us," Baez said. "I have told everyone all
along that the defense has not done anything unethical in any way,
shape or form."

Later, Strickland ruled on another motion involving private
investigator Dominic Casey, who now works for George and Cindy Anthony
but once worked for Baez. Some details he told detectives about the
Anthony case won't be released publicly.
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