2009.09.01 Today's Current News - ***NO DISCUSSIONS HERE PLEASE ***

2009.09.01 Today's Current News - ***NO DISCUSSIONS HERE PLEASE ***


Florida Bar clears Casey Anthony's lawyer of ethics charges
11:45 p.m. EDT, August 31, 2009
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The Florida Bar has cleared José Baez, Casey Anthony's defense attorney, of ethics allegations made by a private investigator who worked on the case, according to documents obtained Monday by the Orlando Sentinel.

Members of the Bar's Grievance Committee found "insufficient evidence" that Baez did anything wrong, according to a letter from the Bar.

Dominic Casey, the investigator, alerted the Bar about two issues involving Baez, who represents Anthony in the murder case that arose from the disappearance last summer of her daughter, Caylee Marie.

One issue concerned a discussion the investigator said he had with Baez about doing something other than calling 911 if he found the missing toddler.

Article:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...bk-baez-cleared-by-bar-090109,0,7176801.story

Jose Baez Cleared Of Alleged Ethics Violations
Posted: 11:28 am EDT September 1, 2009
Updated: 11:44 am EDT September 1, 2009
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Eyewitness News learned Tuesday that the Florida Bar has cleared Casey Anthony's defense attorney, Jose Baez, of allegations of ethics violations. The investigation began in April.

The allegations involved private investigator Dominic Casey. He's the man who was recorded in the area where Caylee's remains were discovered months before they were found on December 11 .

Dominic Casey claimed attorney Jose Baez told him not to call 911 if he found Caylee's remains. Also, there was an issue about payments from the defense team.

The Bar says there was insufficient evidence for both claims.

VIDEO REPORT: Jose Baez Cleared
http://www.wftv.com/video/20668400/index.html

BAEZ CLEARED: From Committee
http://www.wftv.com/pdf/20668640/detail.html

BAEZ CLEARED: To Dominic Casey
http://www.wftv.com/pdf/20668610/detail.html

Article:
http://www.wftv.com/news/20667181/detail.html

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/20667422/detail.html

Bar Clears Baez Of Ethics Complaint

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Although Baez has been cleared on Casey's complaint, there is still an open bar complaint against the attorney.

The complaint involves Baez's relationship with his former spokesman, a man known as Todd Black, who sent out press releases on Baez's behalf. Black was later discovered to be a convicted felon.

It is not clear when the investigation into that complaint will be complete.

Bar Clears Baez Of Ethics Complaint
Anthony's Defense Attorney Still Has 1 Active Complaint
POSTED: Tuesday, September 1, 2009
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The Florida Bar has cleared Casey Anthony's defense attorney of an unethical behavior complaint.

The Florida Bar looked into Casey's complaint, but found no probably cause that Baez violated any ethics rules.

Baez has always denied that such a conversation ever took place between himself and Casey.

While working for Baez, Casey searched the wooded area off Suburban Drive -- where Caylee's remains were later found -- three times.

Casey told detectives that Baez instructed him not to call 911 if he found a body. Judge Stan Strickland also forwarded the complaint to the bar.

Although Baez has been cleared on Casey's complaint, there is still an open bar complaint against the attorney.

The complaint involves Baez's relationship with his former spokesman, a man known as Todd Black, who sent out press releases on Baez's behalf. Black was later discovered to be a convicted felon.

VIDEO: Baez Cleared By Bar
http://www.clickorlando.com/video/20668312/index.html

PDF: Bar Letter 1
http://www.clickorlando.com/download/2009/0901/20667147.pdf

PDF: Bar Letter 2
http://www.clickorlando.com/download/2009/0901/20667185.pdf

Article:
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/20667422/detail.html

Casey&#8217;s Lawyer Cleared Of Ethics Charges
Tuesday, September 01, 2009 11:57:29 AM
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Private investigator Dominic Casey alerted the bar association about two issues involving Baez, but according an Orlando Sentinel report, the Bar&#8217;s Grievance Committee found &#8220;insufficient evidence&#8221; that Jose Baez did anything wrong.

One issue was over a discussion Dominic Casey said he had with Baez about doing something other than calling 911 if the investigator found Casey&#8217;s daughter, Caylee, who was missing for six months before her remains were found in December.

The other issue dealt with payment for Dominic Casey&#8217;s services.

Baez told the Bar he would review appropriate invoices and discuss them with the investigator.

Article:
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/9/1/caseys_lawyer_cleared_of_ethics_charges.html

Casey Anthony: Bar clears Jose Baez of ethics allegations
posted by halboedeker on Sep 1, 2009 12:22:56 PM
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The Florida Bar has cleared Casey Anthony's defense attorney Jose Baez of two ethics complaints, TV stations reported at noon today.

One allegation involved private investigator Dominic Casey, who claimed that Baez had told him not to call 911 if he found Caylee Anthony's remains, WFTV-Channel 9 anchor Vanessa Echols reported. Casey Anthony is charged with the first-degree murder of Caylee, her daughter.

Another issue focused on payments from the defense team, WFTV said. "The Bar says there was insufficient evidence for both claims," Echols said. (The Sentinel reported that Dominic Casey had "raised another issue dealing with payment for his services.")

"As a defense attorney representing a high-profile client, you're going to take some attacks," DeForest said. "He's been able to shrug them off. So far, every Bar complaint filed against him in this matter has been cleared."

Article:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/en...r-clears-jose-baez-of-ethics-allegations.html

Inmate Writes Letter To Judge In Casey Case
Posted: 2:16 pm EDT September 1, 2009
Updated: 3:45 pm EDT September 1, 2009
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An inmate who had already mailed a letter to the clerk of courts claiming he knew who killed Caylee Anthony also sent a letter to a judge involved in the case.

The letter, like the previous one (read previous letter), claims that the inmate, Jerry Jackson, is "a very close friend" of the person who killed Caylee Anthony.

"I do not know if Ms. Anthony (sic) played a part in the murder but the person who did kill her daughter is a ex-boyfriend of hers," Jackson wrote in the letter Eyewitness News obtained Tuesday.

It was addressed to "Judge Evans," who is likely Judge Robert Evans. Evans is the judge who signed a court order to obtain Casey's cell phone records.

Jerry Jackson is a 21-year-old inmate behind bars since 2004 on a 30-year sentence for crimes committed in 2002, including sexual battery with a weapon, armed burglary and kidnapping.

In April 2006, a then 18-year-old Jackson claimed in a letter written from behind bars that he kidnapped missing 13-year-old Ashani Creighton and killed her. However, his claims were dismissed amid a history of mental illness.

READ LETTER: To Judge
http://www.wftv.com/pdf/20669845/detail.html

READ LETTER: To Clerk Of Courts
http://www.wftv.com/pdf/20533041/detail.html

IMAGE: Jackson's Mug
http://images.ibsys.com/2009/0824/20533955_640X360.jpg

Article:
http://www.wftv.com/news/20669869/detail.html

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orange County Jail said Tuesday that its re-emphasis on the ban for lawyers bringing personal letters into the jail has nothing to do with Casey Anthony's attorney.

Administrators have posted a sign strongly reminding lawyers visiting the facility that it is a felony to bring in contraband items, including personal letters.

Images | Special Section

Brad Conway, the attorney for George and Cindy Anthony, confirmed that Baez has a standing policy of controlling letters going between Casey Anthony and her family. Conway said his clients are cut off from their daughter.

Conway said the Anthonys are breaking that agreement and will begin mailing letters directly to their daughter. Conway said that defense team member Andrea Lyon agrees that the Anthonys should be able to have a video visit with Casey Anthony.

Officials deny that it was Baez or his actions that prompted the jail's re-emphasis of the rules.

Casey Anthony is in the Orange County Jail charged with murder in the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee. Caylee's remains were found last December in a wooded area off Suburban Drive near the Anthony family home.


http://www.wesh.com/caseyanthony/20672110/detail.html

Casey Anthony cut off from 'fed up' George, Cindy, WESH reports
posted by halboedeker on Sep 1, 2009 6:09:46 PM

Casey Anthony is no longer getting any letters from her parents, and George and Cindy Anthony are fed up, WESH-Channel 2 reported today.

Defense attorney Jose Baez has controlled the correspondence between his client and her parents, Brad Conway, the attorney for the parents, told WESH's Bob Kealing.

But George and Cindy Anthony plan to start mailing letters to their daughter despite Baez, Conway said. "It's been terrible all along for them," Conway said. Andrea Lyon, the new defense attorney, says the parents should have a video visit with their daughter, Conway said.

Baez did not respond to WESH, Kealing said.

Article:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/09/casey-anthony-.html

VIDEO: Anthonys To Mail Casey Letters Despite Policy
http://www.wesh.com/video/20674056/index.html

Casey Anthony: Jose Baez says ethics allegations motivate him to fight harder for client who says she is not guilty
posted by halboedeker on Sep 1, 2009 6:49:51 PM
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After being cleared of several ethics allegations, Casey Anthony's attorney Jose Baez was speaking out on WKMG-Channel 6 tonight. The CBS affiliate scheduled the exclusive interview at 6:30 p.m. to compete with national news on ABC and NBC.

"Jose Baez says he knew he did nothing wrong, so it came as no surprise to him when he received this letter from the Florida Bar clearing him of an ethics complaint," WKMG's Mike DeForest reported.

Baez insisted that he never told former private investigator Dominic Casey to do anything unethical, DeForest said. Baez had no idea why the private eye would make such a charge. Baez was cleared after a four-month review by the Florida Bar.

"It's discouraging to hear your name thrown around like mud, especially when you work so hard," Baez told DeForest. "I know what it's like to be accused of something you haven't done. So what it does is it really motivates me to fight harder."

That feeling evidently has cemented the bond between Baez and his client. Anthony is charged with the first-degree murder of her daughter, Caylee.

"My client has told me she's not guilty, and I'm working hard and doing everything that I can as her legal counsel to put the state to its burden," Baez said.

Article:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/en...-to-fight-harder-for-client-who-says-she.html