It is official, from the Orange County clerks office, Register of Actions, with his name crossed out, Jose Baez is no longer Casey Anthony’s attorney. The most notorious defense attorney in the country has moved on to the sandier beaches of Miami, Florida.
Baez’s withdrawal statement to the Miami Herald snipped;
…. it’s time to move on: “My work as Ms. Anthony’s defense attorney is finished. It’s not my job to answer questions regarding non-legal matters relating to Ms. Anthony, and I must attend to my other clients’ needs.”
It’s unclear why but the rumors are rampantly surfacing. Some claim it’s because of Casey Anthony’s recently released video diary, others say it’s a falling out due to Baez’s inability to land Casey a million dollar television deal. I think it has more to do with the simple fact that Jose Baez’s job is done.
On July 5, 2011, Jose Baez accomplished the unlikely task of garnering an unlikely acquittal for his client, 22 year old Casey Anthony, charged with murdering her beautiful 2 ½ year old daughter Caylee Marie.
Caylee Marie
At trial, in Casey Anthony’s opening statement, Mr. Baez immediately informed the jury that Caylee was not murdered but had died in an accidental drowning which I’m sure this knowledge played a huge part in Baez’s fight to save her mother’s life.
Defending a woman accused of killing her child must have been quite a conundrum for family man Jose Baez but it was a job that had to be done because as he stated in a post-verdict interview with Geraldo Rivera, to allow Caylee’s mother to possibly die for her death would be a gross injustice to Caylee.
After three years of unmitigated public mockery and ridicule, he has earned the privilege to walk away with his head held high. What more could a client want but to be acquitted of first degree murder with the possibility of a death sentence? Lawyers have quit on clients for various reasons but in this case, his moving on to continue his career is a fair and reasonable decision.
Truth Be Known
Tenacious and hard working defense attorneys are hard to find.
And who can forget his humble statement at the press conference, immediately after Casey Anthony’s acquittal.
A humble man indeed.
According to the Miami Herald, Mr. Baez has landed a job with a top notch Miami law firm. Not long ago, he was literally fighting for his client; being pushed and shoved by the media, having his personal life plastered on the internet and in Orlando newspapers.
He endured insults not only from the uneducated public but by a few paid legal analysts who underestimated his abilities and arrogantly scrutinized and questioned his work. Meanwhile, at no point did Jose Baez step outside of himself or stoop to their level. He was always a gentleman.
Jose Baez was recently asked to speak at a three session seminar called “Fantasy of Forensics, How Junk Science Failed to Persuade the Jury in the Casey Anthony Case”.
There, many of Jose Baez’s peers paid fees to hear him speak, contrary to his Orange County Courthouse adversary, ex-prosecutor Jeff Ashton who has set up a Pay Pal account on a social website, asking for donations from the angry public in hopes of winning a local election.
Giordano leaving Aruba
Since his sudden retirement after losing the Anthony case, Jeff Ashton has had two clients, his children whereas in comparison, Mr. Baez was consulted in another high profile case, the disappearance of Robyn Gardner, 35, who has been missing from Aruba since Aug. 2. The man she was vacationing with, Gary Giordano, 50, was detained there for five weeks but not charged with any crime. Jose said he was passionate to help Gary Giordana and was notably appalled by the use of cadaver dogs being sent in from Holland to search for Robyn Gardner two months after the woman went missing.
It seems Mr. Baez enjoys a challenge. He’s also representing Charlie Ely in her appeal. Ely, 18 years old at the time of her offense, was sentenced to life in prison for her part in the brutal murder of 15 year old Seath Jackson. Whether she is guilty or not, Baez is sworn to oath to do the best of his ability.
To judge an attorney by the cases he takes on is unfair. It’s the job of the defense attorney to choose where his services are needed. Instead, we should judge attorneys on the passion and persistence that he/she utilizes in order to defend their clients.
“The Ethics of Justice: Why Criminal Defense Lawyers Defend the Guilty”
Quote:
So regardless of whether a criminal lawyer’s client is guilty of the crime he or she is being tried for or wrongly accused, the defense attorney’s job doesn’t change: make the prosecution prove its case with sound arguments, real evidence, and reliable testimony. In a sense, the real client of a defense attorney isn’t truly the defendant at all but the integrity of democracy and the justice system.
Without good defense attorneys, there wouldn’t be anyone to protect the innocent when they are falsely accused. One innocent person is prison is far too many.
Oath of Admission to The Florida Bar
“I do solemnly swear:
“I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida;
“I will maintain the respect due to courts of justice and judicial officers;
“I will not counsel or maintain any suit or proceedings which shall appear to me to be unjust, nor any defense except such as I believe to be honestly debatable under the law of the land;
“I will employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to me such means only as are consistent with truth and honor, and will never seek to mislead the judge or jury by any artifice or false statement of fact or law;
“I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the secrets of my clients, and will accept no compensation in connection with their business except from them or with their knowledge and approval;
“To opposing parties and their counsel, I pledge fairness, integrity, and civility, not only in court, but also in all written and oral communications;
“I will abstain from all offensive personality and advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or witness, unless required by the justice of the cause with which I am charged;
“I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed, or delay anyone’s cause for lucre or malice. So help me God.”
Considering Mr. Baez’s rough start, first as a high school drop-out who enlisted into the military, to later attaining his GED, and then use his GI bill to go to college/law school is a remarkable feat. He is a wonderful role model for all young people proving that nothing is impossible, that hard work does lead to success. His tough work ethics were obvious in his tenacious efforts to show reasonable doubt in the Anthony case, albeit against exhausting odds. His family should be very proud.
Wikipedia explains more…
Baez was born in Manhattan, New York City.[3] Baez dropped out of Homestead High School in the ninth grade, got married and became a father at the age of 17. After he earned his GED diploma, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1986. According to his resume, he spent three years at the NATO base in Norfolk, Virginia, trained as an intelligence analyst, describing it as “Cosmic Top Secret” security clearance.[2][4]
On his return to civilian life, Baez attended Miami-Dade Community College and later transferred to Florida State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1997, Baez earned his Juris Doctor degree from St. Thomas University School of Law, and after graduation, he submitted his application to practice law to the Florida Bar. In April 1998, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners denied him a license to practice law based on evidence of “financial irresponsibility.”[2][5]
Baez started working as paralegal for Miami-Dade County public defender and taught internet research to lawyers. He also started four online business ventures, including two selling bikinis and two which sold computer know-how. In September 1990, Baez declared bankruptcy in Virginia where he resided. In 1995, the Virginia Education Loan Authority filed liens against Baez for $4,336 in unpaid loans.[2] Baez also worked for Lexis Nexis.[5] According to media reports, his financial situation deteriorated in the recent years, with his home, purchased for over $670,000 in 2007, foreclosed and appraised at $272,900.[5] Demonstrating he had rehabilitated himself, the Florida Bar finally granted him a license to practice law on September 22, 2005
Onward, forward to more speaking engagements, Mr. Baez is invited to keynote a seminar “Justice Must Be Won” for the ACDLA, the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association which will be held June 14-16, 2012 at the Pensacola Beach Hilton.
Sounds fun and likely to be a success, nothing is nicer than the white beaches of Pensacola.
“The Irony is Rich”
One of the most frequently used quotes stemming from the Casey Anthony trial came from Judge Stan Strickland when he was asked to recuse himself as presiding judge of the Casey Anthony murder trial. This statement rings true in many ways.
GOOD LUCK MR. BAEZ!
Job well done!
~~~
To Jose Baez:
We’ll miss your commentary regarding the Anthony case here at theJBMission. “Ironically” your initials were the same as my belated mother. She was another strong believer in truth, justice and the Constitutional Rights of the United States of America. My self-imposed mission was to look at the Anthony case as she would.
Truth, there wasn’t any solid evidence that said Casey Anthony murdered her daughter.
Thanks to you, Justice prevailed and our 6th Amendment Constitutional Right to a fair trial are still intact.
Thank you!
TheJBMission~
Sources:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104823/Casey-Anthonys-lawyer-Jose-Baez-case.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/22/2655586/casey-anthony-attorney-jose-baez.html
http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/11/casey-anthonys-jose-baez-quit/
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/jose-baez-longer-attorney-casey-anthony-15766070
http://www.ethicsscoreboard.com/list/defense.html
http://alabamacriminaldefenselawyersassn.memberlodge.org/
http://abcnews.go.com/US/jose-baez-grossly-incompetent-cadaver-dogs-search-missing/story?id=14686061
http://www.floridabarexam.org/public/main.nsf/rules.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Baez_(lawyer)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
As defined:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence
Omar ~ Scene #2
Omar ~ Scene #4
