New law prevents attorney from withdrawing from case

[Aedrys]

Well, I like it. It means a lawyer can't make a profit and run in Florida. I think it's more important in light of the Sunshine Laws there. Since everyone knows what's been going with Casey's case, it's nice to see that not just us at WS are paying attention to the money runaround in this case.

Honestly, I think it makes things more fair for the defendant. Yes, she picked a doofus, but now that that doofus has to stay on and not leave her to defend for herself. She's basically entitled to the defense she picked, even if the money runs out. That sounds very fair to me. She picked him, she's stuck with him. Ha, kind of like a marriage sort of thing - 'til verdict do we part. lol! I like that!

ETA: I wonder if Casey is sitting in her cell, smirking. Can't leave me now, Baez! And I also wonder if this going to quicken a plea bargain. I mean now that he knows he HAS to see this out, I'd think he's sweating bullets and dreaming about plea bargains, lol (if that's still possible).

 

[nums24]

Here is a summary of the new law that this thread is about:

http://www.justiceadmin.org/court_app_counsel/contracts/IFC memo 2010 statutory changes.pdf


Here is the actual bill with the amendment to the bill:

http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2010/House/bills/billtext/pdf/h540104er.pdf

 

[Pattymarie]

Gee, what if there were laws stating that all careers that provide a service have to work for free when the client can no longer pay. Bet my lawn service, doctor, auto mechanic and kids' teachers wouldn't go for that. We all have a right to earn a living.

Just one more thing to make ICA feel she is special....they even change laws for her.

The only good that could come out of this, is maybe JB will motivated to speed this thing up. (prolly not, tho)

 

[USARDOG]

Well, I like it. It means a lawyer can't make a profit and run in Florida. I think it's more important in light of the Sunshine Laws there. Since everyone knows what's been going with Casey's case, it's nice to see that not just us at WS are paying attention to the money runaround in this case.

Honestly, I think it makes things more fair for the defendant. Yes, she picked a doofus, but now that that doofus has to stay on and not leave her to defend for herself. She's basically entitled to the defense she picked, even if the money runs out. That sounds very fair to me. She picked him, she's stuck with him. Ha, kind of like a marriage sort of thing - 'til verdict do we part. lol! I like that!

ETA: I wonder if Casey is sitting in her cell, smirking. Can't leave me now, Baez! And I also wonder if this going to quicken a plea bargain. I mean now that he knows he HAS to see this out, I'd think he's sweating bullets and dreaming about plea bargains, lol (if that's still possible).

Great points! I think you are on to something with this making a plea more likely than ever.

 

[nums24]

Well, I like it. It means a lawyer can't make a profit and run in Florida. I think it's more important in light of the Sunshine Laws there. Since everyone knows what's been going with Casey's case, it's nice to see that not just us at WS are paying attention to the money runaround in this case.

Honestly, I think it makes things more fair for the defendant. Yes, she picked a doofus, but now that that doofus has to stay on and not leave her to defend for herself. She's basically entitled to the defense she picked, even if the money runs out. That sounds very fair to me. She picked him, she's stuck with him. Ha, kind of like a marriage sort of thing - 'til verdict do we part. lol! I like that!

ETA: I wonder if Casey is sitting in her cell, smirking. Can't leave me now, Baez! And I also wonder if this going to quicken a plea bargain. I mean now that he knows he HAS to see this out, I'd think he's sweating bullets and dreaming about plea bargains, lol (if that's still possible).

It's interesting that Andrea Lyon left the case the day before this new law went into effect! She collected her $113,000 and got out of dodge!

From the murder docket:

06/30/2010 Motion to Withdraw as Counsel: Andrea Lyon

 

[Numbers]

Gee, what if there were laws stating that all careers that provide a service have to work for free when the client can no longer pay. Bet my lawn service, doctor, auto mechanic and kids' teachers wouldn't go for that. We all have a right to earn a living.

Just one more thing to make ICA feel she is special....they even change laws for her.

The only good that could come out of this, is maybe JB will motivated to speed this thing up. (prolly not, tho)

I have yet to have a lawn service, auto mechanic, or teacher provided for me when I cannot afford same. Casey was given this alternative, and she even had a court-assigned lawyer for her very first hearing. Immediately after that, she and Baez chose each other.

Attorneys [should] know their client's ability or non-ability to pay before they take on the case. To suck the money dry and take a powder is wrong in my book. Due diligence and wise decisions should be the mantra for these lawyers, not "grab what I can and run." If Baez erroneously believed she could pay him the big bucks, and/or that he could wallow in Benjamins after the trial, shame on him for not looking further.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

JB is a member in good standing of the bar, and state of Florida. There are many assumptions about his motives and ability in your post that I am not willing to make. Further he has a team of lawyers backing him up, and one is as the laws of Florida perscribe, a "death penalty qualified" attorney to see to it that she has qualified representation.

The way I see it, every verdict is also a reflection of the lawyer representing the client, as it is his/her job to portray the evidence in the best light for his client, i.e., the OJ trial. While I see the evidence in that trial completely differently than the jury did, I was not a member of the jury, and the court and state has to honor their verdict.

I don't see any mockery of the court, and think the defense strategy of,"point the finger anyone and everyone," is a common one, especially if their client is guilty, and has a mountain of evidence against them. At that point few options remain but this tactic.

I probably should have added a JMO at the end of my post, which is of course just my opinion. And the defence strategy of pointing the finger, may be a common one, but I find it to be a very 'low' option, but that of course is just my opinion also.

 

[butterfly1978]

I understand what you guys are saying, and I do agree, she chose him, she has plotted and planned with him, but... and its a big but....... now the big money is gone, Baez isn't going to be having "fun" anymore blowing all KC money from selling Caylee's pictures. Now what? He is going to give her half a$$ representation and do what he can to speed this along so he can get back to making real money ripping people off, she is going to have a 1001 appellate issues, what does this law do except force a lawyer to stay and represent the client, it doesn't insure that the client gets a proper defense.
I think the law should hold lawyers accountable for the funds they had first. I want KC to have a good defense, that way when she is convicted it sticks, and anyone else

 

[Horace Finklestein]

What a dubious distinction to have the legislature of a state see the need to take action based on a couple attorneys' actions/likely actions. Amazingly sad Baez is still practicing law. Anyone who can't see how corrupt he is after putting Kronk through hours of depositions is only fooling themselves IMO.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

Slightly OT, but regarding Baez, it does concern me that he has effectively completely isolated his client. He is the conduit through any contact with the outside world is allowed, by the time her parents wrote her in jail she was no longer willing to correspond even with them. This puts her in a particularly vulnerable position IMO which is not good, and I wonder at her ability to judge his abilities and make a sound choice in this area without the perspective of other peoples opinions.

 

[Horace Finklestein]

Slightly OT, but regarding Baez, it does concern me that he has effectively completely isolated his client. He is the conduit through any contact with the outside world is allowed, by the time her parents wrote her in jail she was no longer willing to correspond even with them. This puts her in a particularly vulnerable position IMO which is not good, and I wonder at her ability to judge his abilities and make a sound choice in this area without the perspective of other peoples opinions.

Well he had been smuggling letters in as far as I know...plus I don't see why an adult would need their mom and dad to advise them on which lawyer to use. Casey is a grown up, and she's been at all the pertinent hearings per Judge Perry. I don't see why it would matter if she can or can't get outside advice. I don't see why she couldn't write her parents if she sought their learned counsel...

 

[Mrs G Norris]

Well he had been smuggling letters in as far as I know...plus I don't see why an adult would need their mom and dad to advise them on which lawyer to use. Casey is a grown up, and she's been at all the pertinent hearings per Judge Perry. I don't see why it would matter if she can or can't get outside advice. I don't see why she couldn't write her parents if she sought their learned counsel...

...she's a very young adult. I just think that her isolation may mean that she is getting most of her information from outside of prison from one individual, and people attached to that person, which I think may be a concern if that person has their own interests in mind.

 

[zoey]

I have yet to have a lawn service, auto mechanic, or teacher provided for me when I cannot afford same. Casey was given this alternative, and she even had a court-assigned lawyer for her very first hearing. Immediately after that, she and Baez chose each other.

Attorneys [should] know their client's ability or non-ability to pay before they take on the case. To suck the money dry and take a powder is wrong in my book. Due diligence and wise decisions should be the mantra for these lawyers, not "grab what I can and run." If Baez erroneously believed she could pay him the big bucks, and/or that he could wallow in Benjamins after the trial, shame on him for not looking further.

IIRC.... her initial claim of $10,000 or was it $15,000 bounced or something along that line....he knew pretty soon she had no money...He got into this hoping for his "big break" in whatever avenue he was going to pursue to further himself along....jmo :loser:

 

[faefrost]

Gee, what if there were laws stating that all careers that provide a service have to work for free when the client can no longer pay. Bet my lawn service, doctor, auto mechanic and kids' teachers wouldn't go for that. We all have a right to earn a living.

Just one more thing to make ICA feel she is special....they even change laws for her.

The only good that could come out of this, is maybe JB will motivated to speed this thing up. (prolly not, tho)

Actually your doctor at least (among others) IS subjected to just that. They have to treat indigent patients. They receive no compensation for it, even when the treating facility does receive state and federal dollars for doing so. In order to have privileges with a hospital a surgeon must be prepared to perform surgery on whatever the hospital sends him. But he is not a direct salaried employee. He bills separately from the facility for his services. In some urban areas 40% of his time will be spent on indigent patients. He cannot refuse them. And he will never get paid a dime for doing so. note: This is why surgeons are starting to become scarce, along with anesthesiologists, radiologists and ER specialists. Doctors are moving to other specialties less prone to be subjected to these must treat clauses, such as bariatric surgery, or sleep disorder specialties. Pure elective stuff that is paid for cash up front. You will see a similar shift in Lawyers in Florida as a result of this, where you will see fewer criminal defense lawyers and more from specialties that are not exposed in this manner, such as civil litigation, real estate or tax law.

 

[countzero]

...she's a very young adult. I just think that her isolation may mean that she is getting most of her information from outside of prison from one individual, and people attached to that person, which I think may be a concern if that person has their own interests in mind.

Whoa, ICA is ONLY isolated from the general population of the jail inmates. She gets letters and can send letters. Who she decides will get these letters, is her choice.

As for legal advice, sheeze ICA has had more legal attention given to her than the normal criminal does. Far more attention. ICA has at her disposal, at least three attorneys and their paralegal staff. She had J Barrett and she has the jail chaplain she sees more than her legal staff.

Then she has HHJP watching over her. So dont let yourself be fooled that ICA cannot make a rationale decision about her legal team.

So, she isn't isolation from receiving information. Like ICA always has done, she picks and chooses the info she deems necessary to believe.

 

[seagull65]

Amazingly sad Baez is still practicing law. Anyone who can't see how corrupt he is after putting Kronk through hours of depositions is only fooling themselves IMO.

IMO it would be negligent if he failed to question Kronk in depth. My concern would be just the opposite, hope he asks enough questions and the right questions, hope he deposes everyone he should, etc.

 

[sleutherontheside]

It's interesting that Andrea Lyon left the case the day before this new law went into effect! She collected her $113,000 and got out of dodge!

From the murder docket:

06/30/2010 Motion to Withdraw as Counsel: Andrea Lyon

The "uncanny timing" of so many events in this case is rather interesting. Is this a Capital Case or a game?

 

[nums24]

The "uncanny timing" of so many events in this case is rather interesting. Is this a Capital Case or a game?

The defense has made it a game, a complete mockery of the judicial system.

 

[seagull65]

Slightly OT, but regarding Baez, it does concern me that he has effectively completely isolated his client. He is the conduit through any contact with the outside world is allowed, by the time her parents wrote her in jail she was no longer willing to correspond even with them. This puts her in a particularly vulnerable position IMO which is not good, and I wonder at her ability to judge his abilities and make a sound choice in this area without the perspective of other peoples opinions.

I agree Mrs. G. Her track record suggests to me that she tends to be overtrusting of new "friends". The defense policy of isolating her, keeping her from talking to police/FBI, even family, has worried me throughout the case. First, it made her look guilty. Second, I worry that she may be floating along in a delusional world thinking she can actually be acquitted after two years of silence while the prosecution theory has been endlessly explored and publicized. Even in the earliest interviews, witnesses had already been influenced by what they were seeing in the media and what they were hearing from the investigators interviewing them. That was scary.

 

[seagull65]

Heaven forbid if Casey gets left with just CM as her defense, he seems like the nicest guy and I'm sure he's an excellent attorney, but I'm not sure he's totally aware of the facts/events in the case, having come in so late. During the last hearing he said something about Cindy and Casey having gone to the mall after Cindy picked Casey up from TL's,which of course didn't happen. Likewise with new lawyers taking her case at this point, what a nightmare. Though I guess that's what happens sometimes? I just hope her team really have only her interests in mind, and that they questioned her enough to get to the bottom of things, and others, and also that they've confronted her with the reality of her situation. I hope they didn't just assume she must be guilty so just keep her quiet and invent some vague defense theories to throw and see if they stick, you know. If nothing else I hope they really looked into the question of if she's of sound mind. To me she seemed very illogical (when she was still talking). Even the investigators asked her in her first interviews if she'd been committed to the mental hospital before, they were fully aware how illogical she seemed and commented on it. It worries me that the defense team may only be having her seen by a therapist or psychologist to explore possible mitigation issues, maybe a theory of her being molested as a child, etc, but not had adequate medical workup, toxicology, etc, to determine if she was suffering from some kind of confusion or delirium during the weeks when Caylee disappeared which caused her to fail to report, or questioned her enough to get to the bottom of any other factors which could have caused her not to report, etc. MOO Because explaining why she didn't report the disappearance will be essential to her defense.