KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The case against Casey Anthony will be the biggest criminal trial ever in Central Florida and her defense just got a lot bigger. Three new lawyers joined the team Tuesday.
9/14 NEWS CONFERENCE: Part 1 | Part 2 BILL SHEAFFER: Analysis Of New Lawyers VIDEO REPORT: Team Announces New Lawyers
The new lawyers seem to thrive in the spotlight. One has a book out and another was the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary.
Now, joining lead attorneys Jose Baez and Cheney Mason are Ann Finnell, a Jacksonville attorney and expert on the death penalty, Dorothy Clay Sims, an Ocala attorney who specializes in cross-examining medical experts, and Charles Greene, an Orlando attorney who will handle Casey's civil case.
The defense is replacing lawyers it lost and says it had a tough time doing that. One of the new attorneys appears to be involved in helping the defense fight crucial evidence found in Casey's car trunk.
Casey Anthony's defense team held a news conference Tuesday to talk about its new lawyers. Sims was there and told WFTV about her expertise in cross-examining medical doctors and other expert witnesses.
"I go around the country and cross-examine that expert to determine whether the science is legitimate or whether it's junk science," she said.
Sims admits to not having extensive criminal experience, but it appears she's helping the defense try to get air tests from Casey's trunk, showing chemicals of human decomposition, thrown out. The tests have never been used in a criminal case before and the defense will be questioning the experts who did those tests.
"The revolving door of changing personnel does not change the facts in this case," WFTV legal expert Bill Sheaffer said. "The facts are the circumstantial evidence that form the chain to establish guilt."
Finnell, who will work on death penalty issues, was not there Tuesday. Her claim to fame is winning an acquittal for a 15-year-old boy accused in a tourist murder 10 years ago. It was the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary. With her, the defense team is now up to five.
"Is this an indication that you're worried?" WFTV reporter Kathi Belich asked attorney Cheney Mason.
"It might be to you, but it's not to us. It's an indication of total confidence. We're up against the State Attorney's Office that has changed its mind about the death penalty, not the death penalty, unlimited resources, a law firm of 150 people," Mason said.
Orlando attorney Charles Green will be representing Casey against a defamation lawsuit filed by Zenaida Gonzalez, whose name is the same as the alleged nanny Casey said disappeared with Caylee, a woman investigators say does not exist.
"They all believe in the cause, our cause for justice, to try to get justice for Caylee, for Casey," Baez said.
Sheaffer says that could be, or there could be another reason.
"For notoriety, for financial gain," Sheaffer said.
But they could suffer financial drain instead. Former defense team lawyer Andrea Lyon, who, despite having new book out, asked taxpayers to pay for her flights from Chicago because she could no longer afford to.
"A case like this could be so polarizing that you, as a lawyer, are associated with your client and the act of your client," Sheaffer said.
If Casey is convicted and, especially if she's sentenced to death for murdering her daughter Caylee, these lawyers could face humiliating finger-pointing from Casey's appellate attorneys.
"You will be attacked. You will be caused to defend your actions," Sheaffer said.
Four other attorneys have already come through and left either Casey or her parents.
In November 2008, Mark NeJame stopped representing Casey's parents, partly because they wouldn't follow his counsel during the search for Caylee.
In April, Todd Macaluso was disbarred and withdrew from Casey's defense. Three months later, lack of finances cost Casey her death penalty specialist, Andrea Lyon.
Last month, Brad Conway quit Casey's parents over claims that Casey's lawyers made false statements about him.
DEFENSE ALLOWED TO REVIEW EQUUSEARCH RECORDS
Casey Anthony's defense team will be allowed to review all of Texas EquuSearch's volunteer records, but they'll have to follow strict guidelines.
READ: Joint Document
Casey's attorneys and lawyers for the volunteer group that searched for Caylee filed a joint document Monday. The order allows the defense to call searchers and ask questions from a pre-approved list.
A Texas EquuSearch representative and a special magistrate appointed by Chief Judge Belvin Perry must be present at all times.
OCALA ATTORNEY JOINS CASEY'S DEFENSE TEAM
An attorney from Ocala is joining Casey Anthony's defense team, WFTV learned Wednesday.
READ: Notice Of New Co-Counsel
Court documents show Dorothy Clay Sims will appear as co-counsel for the defense. According to her law firm's website, Sims focuses on direct and cross-examination of medical experts.
She will join Casey's attorneys Jose Baez and J. Cheney Mason.
CASEY'S DEFENSE ALLOWED TO REVIEW EQUUSEARCH RECORDS
Casey Anthony's defense team will be allowed to review all of Texas EquuSearch's volunteer records, but they'll have to follow strict guidelines.
READ: Joint Document
Casey's attorneys and lawyers for the volunteer group that searched for Caylee filed a joint document Monday. The order allows the defense to call searchers and ask questions from a pre-approved list.
A Texas EquuSearch representative and a special magistrate appointed by Chief Judge Belvin Perry, must be present at all times.
WHAT'S NEXT IN THE CASE?
The prosecution must finish their expert witness depositions by September 30. The deadline for depositions for all other witnesses is October 31.
The next status hearing is scheduled for September 27.
Casey's trial starts May 9, 2011.
CASEY'S ATTORNEYS QUESTION DOZENS OF OFFICERS
Casey Anthony's defense team lined up 35 witnesses to question Friday. They were all law enforcement officers.
JUDGE'S ORDERS: Status Hearing | Set Schedules VIDEO REPORT: Officers Questioned By Lawyers
That means dozens of cops were off the street Friday, sitting in an office away from their duties. Some of the officers spent hours just sitting and waiting.
The 35 law enforcement officers had no choice; they were subpoenaed. Some sat here for hours, not knowing when they'd be called for their depositions. Most were on duty and had other work they needed to be doing Friday.
There were homicide detectives, sex crimes detectives, a U.S. Secret Service officer and a crime scene tech, among others, all of whom had minimal roles in the first-degree murder case against Casey Anthony.
One detective told WFTV he was frustrated that he couldn't work his cases while he was waiting and said he'd never been to this kind of deposition before, where he did not have a specific appointment time. Homicide Detective Chris Dillon was one of the 17 officers who were scheduled for 1:00pm depositions.
"What would you be doing if you weren't here today?" WFTV reporter Kathi Belich asked Dillon.
"Solving homicide cases," he said.
Most of them sat around for an hour or so, only to be questioned for five minutes or so. Defense attorney Jose Baez canceled several law enforcement depositions over the summer. WFTV asked him why he tied up so many officers for hours in one day when he's had two years to do it.
"This was, hands down, the fastest and most efficient way of dealing with these issues and these witnesses," Baez said.
But WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer says the depositions could have been scheduled every ten minutes to prevent wasting so much taxpayer time.
"You don't want to pull them all off the street, tie their time up, when they should be protecting and serving," Sheaffer said.
Chief Judge Belvin Perry told Baez that he will meet his deadlines even if Perry has to schedule his depositions for him, even on nights and weekends, but then witnesses would suffer, too.
Previous Stories: September 8, 2010: Ocala Attorney Joins Casey's Defense Team September 3, 2010: Casey's Attorneys Question Dozens Of Officers August 31, 2010: Lawyers Give Updated Timeline On Casey Case August 26, 2010: Woman Says Casey Case Leading To Threats August 26, 2010: Casey Anthony's Parents Hire New Attorneys August 24, 2010: Casey's Defense Wants To Block Release Of Docs August 23, 2010: Attorney No Longer Representing Casey's Parents August 13, 2010: Cindy Says She's Not Convinced Caylee Is Dead August 12, 2010: Casey Anthony Owes The Jail Money Again August 11, 2010: Casey May Have License Suspended Over Owed Fees
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