Well it looks like somebody got caught with their hand in the cookie jar while I was away, as our good friend Jose Baez filed an eight paragraph Motion for Protective Order Regarding a Telephone Recording of Robin Lunceford.
And since I had nothing better to do after a week long vacation, I thought it would be nice to annotate and analyze the eight paragraph motion for my unfaithful readers to help them understand what really transpired between Jose Baez and Robin Lunceford.
Annotations of the Motion
Paragraph 1:
He received a phone call from an ex-inmate who stated she had a friend who conspired with Maya Derkovic to create a lie to possibly benefit from her knowing Casey Anthony at the Orange County Jail. The unknown caller informed the undersigned that she would be calling later that evening.
Basically, Jose received a phone call saying a current inmate would be calling him (collect most likely) that evening with information about Maya Derkovic. (Jose likely soiled his underwear from sheer excitement.)
Paragraph 2:
Shortly thereafter, the undersigned counsel was advised by his secretary after hours, that Robin Lunceford was attempting to reach him. The case was transferred to the undersigned counsel cell phone, upon which a conversation with the prospective witness occurred.
Considering Jose failed to list his secretary’s name and I don’t know any secretary who works after hours, I suspect what really happened is that when Robin Lunceford called, his after-hours answering service answered (almost every solo lawyer uses one – I use a company called Signius) and forwarded the call to him. (Personally, for Jose, I hope my suspicion is incorrect, because lack of candor with judges and misrepresentation are big no-no’s for lawyers.)
Paragraph 3:
While it became known that Robin Lunceford was calling from a corrections Institution, the undersigned counsel was never made aware that the call was being recorded by either Robin Lunceford or the standard recording that is usually played when receiving a call from a Correctional Institution.
Even though he admits to knowing the phone call was from an incarcerated prisoner, he claims ignorance it could be recorded because he never heard the “standard recording” telling the recipient the call originated from a prison and was subject to being recorded.
Well duh! His answering service – cough, cough – I mean secretary heard the “standard recording” before forwarding it to him (How else could she have answered). And the secretary’s knowledge of the recording would be imputed to him.
It is also possible that a Three-Way call was initiated by Robin Lunceford, but since Jose admits to knowing the call originated from a prisoner, he still lacks a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Paragraph 4:
As the Court may already be aware, all calls are not recorded when coming from a Correction Institution. Many times inmates have access to telephones specifically designed for contact with attorneys and sometimes counselors allow inmates to make non-recorded calls, and on certain occasions, inmates obtain contraband cell phones.
Well looky here, there happens to be a Florida regulation that specifically regulates the circumstances by which a State Prisoner (as opposed to a person housed in a county jail) can use the telephone. See Florida Administrative Code 33-602.205 “Inmate Telephone Use” This regulation states that all calls will be monitored. And while there is an exception for calls to attorneys, the exception does not apply to Jose Baez per subsection (3).
With that said, it is true that I too have received phone calls from inmates using the chaplain’s office, only come those call have come from inmates in a county jail – never in a prison
Paragraph 5:
Among other topics discussed the undersigned was made aware that Robin Lunceford along with Maya Derkovic conspired with Robin Adams to possibly benefit by lying to the State about Casey Anthony. Maya Derkovic’s apparent motivation was to receive a transfer to another institution for her information. Subsequent to this conversation Maya Derkovic was transferred to another correctional institution in Broward County.
Again, DUH! Apparently he did not read my blog posts. (See An Open Letter to Web Sleuthers Everywhere… and Of Rats and Women)
Paragraph 6:
The Defense has just been advised by Assistant State Attorney, Linda Drane Burdick that the State intends to release a recording of this telephone conversation in discovery.
Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive! More contemporarily quoted as Oh Sh!t. (Jose likely soiled his underwear from sheer fear of what he said on the tape.)
Paragraph 7:
The Defense contends that this conversation is not only protected by the work product doctrine it further argues that it would be a third degree felony pursuant to 934.06.
See below: “Analysis: Work Product.”
Paragraph 8:
The undersigned requests that the State not listen to the illegally recorded statements as the use and disclosure of the unlawfully intercepted conversation would be a third degree felony pursuant to F.S. 934.03. Additionally, F.S. 934.06 specifically states “Whenever any wire or oral communication has been intercepted, no part of the contents of such communication and no evidence derived there from may be received in evidence in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in or before any court, grand jury, department, officer, agency, regulatory body, legislative committee, or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, if the disclosure of that information would be in violation of this chapter.
See below: Analysis: F.S. 934.06 “Interception and Disclosure of Oral Communications Prohibited.”
Analysis: Work Product
Our good friend Jose Baez first seeks the court’s protection from the disclosure by the State of the recording between him and Robin Lunceford by claiming the conversation was “Work Product.”
The discoverability of Work Product information is addressed in Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220(g)(1) (Titled Work Product), which states: “Disclosure shall not be required of legal research or of records, correspondence, reports, or memoranda to the extent that they contain the opinions, theories, or conclusions of the prosecuting or defense attorney or members of their legal staffs.”
Arguably, a taped conversation between Jose Baez and Robin Lunceford could constitute “record or correspondence.” But to understand if the Work Product “privilege” applies to Jose Baez’s conversation with Robin Lunceford, it is important to understand the policy reasons behind protecting Work Product of lawyers.
And interestingly enough, none other than Justice Thomas D. Sawaya, a judge who sits on the Fifth District Court of Appeals (the court that will handle any appeal related to the Casey Anthony case) wrote the leading primer on the Work Product privilege in Florida, titled appropriately enough: “The Work Product Privilege in a Nutshell” The Florida Bar 67-AUG Fla. B.J. 32 (1993).
The article states that “the primary policy objective of the work-product doctrine is to preserve the effective assistance of attorneys and others employed to help prepare a case for trial. By maintaining the privacy of communications between client, attorney, and others employed in preparing for litigation—especially privacy in the development of legal theories, opinions, and strategies-the doctrine fosters the effectiveness of legal assistance upon which our adversarial system of justice depends.”
However, the article goes on to point out that “voluntary disclosure of privileged matter to a third party generally waives the privilege.”
What this means is that communications between the client, attorney, and others employed in preparing for litigation are privileged as Work Product, however the privilege does not apply to communications with people not employed in preparing for litigation – i.e. Robin Lunceford or maybe even an after-hours answering service?
So it seems clear that the Work Product argument advanced by Jose Baez was simply a shot in the dark with no legal basis.
Analysis: F.S. 934.06 “Interception and Disclosure of Oral Communications Prohibited.”
For those of you unfamiliar with Section 934.06, Florida Statutes, it basically says that any surreptitious recording of a conversation obtained in violation of Section 934.03, Florida Statutes, cannot be used in any legal proceeding.
Section 934.03 then goes on to list a series of circumstances under which the “Oral Communication” of a person can or cannot be surreptitiously recorded. However these circumstances are only looked to once it is determined that the communication is an “Oral Communication” as defined by Section 934.02, Florida Statutes.
Section 934.02(2) defines an Oral Communication as “any oral communication uttered by a person exhibiting an expectation that such communication is not subject to interception under circumstances justifying such expectation.”
Chapter 934 (Florida Wiretapping Act) codifies Article 1, Section 12 of the Florida Constitution, which states:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and against the unreasonable interception of private communications by any means, shall not be violated.
…
This right shall be construed in conformity with the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution, as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court.
Articles or information obtained in violation of this right shall not be admissible in evidence if such articles or information would be inadmissible under decisions of the United States Supreme Court construing the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
And as you can imagine, the Florida Supreme Court has had many opportunities to interpret Article 1, Section 12, Chapter 934, and the Fourth Amendment and have concluded that “under both the Fourth Amendment and the Florida wiretapping act [1] a speaker must have an actual subjective expectation of privacy and [2] our society must recognize that the expectation is reasonable for the oral conversation to be protected.” See Jackson v. State, 18 So. 3d 1016, 1030 (Fla. 2009).
With this as our starting point lets examine Jose Baez’s situation.
Did Jose Have an Actual Subjective Expectation of Privacy?
Even if were true that Jose Baez was never made aware that he was being recorded, the real question is whether he had an actual subjective expectation of privacy.
Considering that Jose Baez is a lawyer and he does not dispute he knew that Robin Lunceford was calling him from prison, it would defy logic for him to reasonably believe that any conversation with a person in a Florida state prison was not being recorded.
Moreover, even if we were to realistically believe she called him from a contraband cellular phone (this is the last thing I would ever assume), he should know that her doing so constitutes a crime on her part. Thus any recording made of her when committing this crime is not protected under Chapter 934.
A more likely scenario though is that she called him three-way and this is why neither his secretary, nor he heard the “standard recording” informing him he was being recorded.
However, because he is a lawyer, he should “subjectively” know that this is the most likely way he was called and should know that there was a third person on the line – thus he had no expectation of privacy between himself and Robin Lunceford.
Finally, even if we were to believe that Jose Baez “personally” never heard any “Standard Recording” the real question is whether the person who answered the phone call originally i.e. his “secretary” heard the recording. If she did, but failed to advise him of this, he cannot be heard to complain because his assertion of the Work Product privilege imputes her knowledge of the circumstances of the call to him. (Ain’t life a bitch.)
And this is why I think he so vaguely drafted his motion as to what he “personally” heard or knew. Because chances are the person who answered the call heard the “Standard Recording” – but just didn’t tell poor old Jose.
Even if there was an Expectation of Privacy, Does Our Society Recognize it as Reasonable?
Even assuming that Jose Baez had a subjective reasonable expectation of privacy, the real question is whether our society is prepared to recognize his expectation as reasonable considering he was talking to a person whom he knew was a convicted felon, in prison, and who was not his client.
Unfortunately for Jose Baez, the Florida Supreme Court has addressed this issue time and time again; and each time they have specifically held that “society would insist that the prisoner’s expectation of privacy always yield to what must be considered the paramount interest in institutional security.” State v. Smith, 641 So. 2d 849 (Fla. 1994); See Jackson v. State, 18 So. 3d 1016, 1030 (Fla. 2009) (“The interest in institutional security allows jailhouse conversations to be monitored.”). See also McWatters v. State, (Fla. 2010) (An inmate has no reasonable expectation of privacy in a telephone communication from jail where the inmate is warned that all calls are monitored or recorded.) (For those of you paying attention, McWatters is also the case I cited in “911, What’s Your Emergency?” and the case Chief Judge Perry specifically cited in admitting two of the three 911 calls, Déjà vu.)
So no, our society would not be willing to recognize Jose Baez’s claimed “subjective expectation of privacy” as reasonable. As a result he is not entitled to have the court grant his protective order and prevent the State from releasing the taped conversation.
Ironically though, even if Ninth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Perry were to throw Jose Baez a bone and grant him some relief, Judge Perry does not have jurisdiction over the Lowell County Annex located in Marion County of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Thus a public records request there would require the Lowell County Annex to release any phone calls of Robin J. Lunceford from May of 2010. (hint, hint)
62 responses to “Is This Call Being Recorded?”
tsk tsk! AGAIN.
I swear, those jailhouse snitches just won’t go away! lol
If only he’d listened to you talking head lawyers…. 😉
Baez had better watch more TV so as to learn something about the law. Nancy Grace points out every night that prisoners have NO expectation of privacy, and if they are making phone calls they are ALWAYS recorded. That is Nancy Grace 101.
Thanks for always explaining the flaws in the defense motions. You usually give us a pretty accurate idea on how Judge Perry is going to rule. To any Florida media reading this, please take the hint and submit a public records request to Lowell County before Jose has a chance to try to block that.
Mr. Hornsby~ Thank you for the breakdown…
I am actually starting to feel a little bad for Mr. Baez. Seems he may be in wayyyyyy over his head. His motions get more and more ridiculous by the day.
I just love your style!!!!!! Your explanations of the law are superb. Poor Jose is soooooo out of his league in this. Even Mason is distracted by his other high profile case, of which he probably will actually get paid. Mr. Hornsby, my hat’s off to you. If ever I find myself in need of a criminal defense atty., you are it. One of these days I would love to see you at work in the courtroom. By the way, what did you think of Cindy Anthonys testimony the other day?
Mr. Hornsby,
Thanks a lot!!!
Don’t tell me JB filed another Motion not based on any law? That came as a surprise. Just kidding!
So, in another words, is JB screwed? I want to know what his “star witness” has to say.
But if Judge Perry seals this I have a feeling its because he has to file a bar complaint….
that would be the only way it would be sealable….
Judge Strickland sealed the sale of photos and photos to ABC pending a bar complaint.
Sealed the video of Casey’s reaction due to being so damning it would taint the jury pool.
And I am questioning if in factJudge Perry could have this sealed whether its in a different county or not.
Its in the State of Florida.
PS…. I am your blog talk radio sister from Colorado…..
Does it ever seem to you that Baez is trying to get a conviction?
Mr Hornsby,
Thanks so much. I had checked your blog earlier to see if you had commented on this issue poor Jose has gotten himself into… I always look for you explanation when Bozo acts out, You as always broke this all down for our understanding . SOoooo how long till you think we get to hear this nonsense. First hand. I do wonder what Cheney thinks of this mess Bozo has made this time.
Hey Richard…re: TYPOS
a) “With that said, it is true that I too have received phone calls from inmates using the chaplain’s office, only come those call have come from inmates in a county jail – never in a prison (You may need to add a few words for it to read better and a period at the end of the sentence)
b)” a conversation obtained in violation of Section 934.03, Florida Statutes, cannot be used in any legal proceeding against the . ” (the sentence lost its ending-oops)
I am just helping out…violette
Hey Richard…..
Thanks so much for your commentary….If you have a chance, go back and re-watch “the LOOK” on Judge Perry’s face when Bozo confirms that “yes, it was recorded by the jail”…..Judge Perry had the biggest “WTF- ARE YOU KIDDING ME LOOK????….There was no concealing his astonishment!!!
I bet this is going to be the biggest Bozo bitch-slapping to date….And, judging by how quickly he filed the motion I bet he must be crapping in his pants 24-7…It is just too funny!
What do other defense attorneys in Orlando think about Jose Angel Baez a.k.a. MORON EXTRAORDINAIRE who continues to desecrate their profession as a whole?
sincerely, violette
I love you! if you were not already married and I was about 30 yrs younger I would marry you… Thank you so much for your wisdom 🙂 you always make me smile!
EPIC Fail on JB’s part. EPIC.
to whatawaste ~ MOO is that Cindy’s trying to get her Evil Spawn convicted, in her passive/aggressive way (same as when she sends baby pics of Caylee with “she loved her mommy so much” on the back ! doesn’t she know that only irritates a psychopath, not induce guilt as no remorse is ‘felt’.); JB is trying, in his trailer-park trash fashion unique to his style as an attorney, to “advocate vigorously for his client.”
Richard, would a Bar Complaint emanate from this incident? If it’s serious enough, could JB face sanctions by the Bar, including Disbarrment (eventually)?….and would that make any Decision by the Court subject to appeal if he were to (eventually) face sanctions by the Bar?
TIA.
PS – Richard, now that you’ve been to St. Thomas, do you Talk Like A Pirate? LOL
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html
“and on certain occasions inmates obtain contraband cell phones”….
In accepting a call of this nature, is one aiding in committing a crime?
Including this statement in his motion, is Baez giving insight to the why he operates, and the levels he’ll stoop to?
Has he in the past accepted calls from contraband phones?
Before continuing a phone call with an incarcerated individual, wouldn’t a competent person inquire as to whether or not the call was being monitored?
Was Baez on this persons call list? If not, isn’t the call an infraction of the institutions rules, and did Baez aid in committing a crime by accepting a 3rd party call? (I am assuming that prisoners must have an approved call list, an they can’t arbitrarily call anyone)
Thanx
If this was via a 3 way connection, wouldn’t it be reasonable to believe that the original caller who informed him that the call was to be expected that evening also told him how it was to be done?
Seems like the caller would have told him how it was going to be possible and since Baez has less ethics and scruples than any person in the profession, he probably was as giddy as a school girl waiting for it.
Wouldn’t that be some sort of offense? How many times is he going to get to claim ignorance before he is disbarred? He’s a disgrace and stupid to boot.
I would be interested to see a Visitor’s log for this person.
Did Baez go visit her?
If not that would show that he is up to media games again!
Dude, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your writing! I’m all the way in Cali and can’t wait for your pieces on the law involving this case! Wish you had the time to write full time, but I realize you can’t. Please don’t ever stop!
Re: Is This Call Being Recorded?
Richard,
One again, Baez is practicing his brand of reactive VS proactive lawyering. Now that the “horse is out of the gate” he files the motion! I believe that he makes a blunder, prepares a motion then tries to find a section of the Florida Criminal Code to support his request, after he finds the section heading, and fails to read/apply the principles.
Even Crim students like me know the importance of using and understanding citations.
Judge Perry’s “eyebrow lifting, lip-pursing facial expressions” on hearing in court Baez’ recitation said it all. The man is a “horses arse and truly beyond belief!
Richard, gotta question –
Maybe I am misunderstanding, I was thinking there may be 2 reasons it could not be released yet. 1) I thought this was still an ongoing investigation in re. Robin Lunceford abusing phone privileges at the prison (therefore nothing would be released yet) and 2) Since Baez has filed a motion for it to be sealed and HHJP has not yet ruled, I thought it would be ‘held’ until he issued his ruling. Am I misunderstanding? If so, please enlighten me.
The only reason that Baez knew it was going to be released is because LDB told him, so there is no longer an ongoing investigation privilege. And even that privilege is subject to Law Enforcement’s discretion.
And yes, LDB is holding off on releasing the recording until she gets Perry’s okay. But that is just as a courtesy, she is not required to.
Got it! Thank ya much!
Re: Personal Communication in courtroom with Accused
Richard, I have two questions that I know you can answer, if you have the time. I’ve noticed that certain lawyers are texting in court and I believe those texts are being received by Baez and then being shared with the accused. If I am correct, is that something that should be allowed? Also, are there no rules about “what to wear” in a courtroom? If so, are they usually enforced?
Thank you
Nothing unethical is occurring. As for rules about what to wear, there are basic guidelines for what the public must wear (no tank tops, mid drifts, etc.); as for the attorneys, they simply must dress in what they consider professional attire.
What about the cud, I mean gum chewing? Shouldn’t Conway advised them of the rules of the court? Or is that not enforced? First thing our attorney told us was NO GUM in the courtroom.
Richard – I always look forward to a new entry on your blog. You have once again managed to put a smile on my face with your unique style of writing. You have a way with words! If you ever decide to write a book, save a copy for me. You’re awesome!
Richard, would you have accepted this case had Casey had phoned you instead of Baez?
If she had the money when she called, yes. If she did not have a reliable source of funds, no.
And please, don’t anyone respond with the ABC deal. Not even Casey had any idea how large the case would become.
Dont you mean how Big the defense would make this case?
Richard, can you say how you would have shaped her defense?
Ooops! Sorry, Richard. Please disregard. I see you’ve already answered that. Just read it now.
Wall to Mr. Mason, “Bang your head here!”
Richard, fantastic commentary/facts as always. The media only reported the news & the Motion. Thanks for explaining what everything meant, to JB’s detriment! LOL!
I love Burdick/Ashton, they can’t comment to the outrageous propaganda that the Defense/Anthony’s have spewed on National Media since he took the case, but Burdick is going to “bitch slap Baez” & hopefully wipe that stupid smirk off his face.
Baez’s continued incompetence is embarrassing, with KC isolated, how does she really know/understand that her defense is “failing miserably” & it is her butt facing the death penalty, not their’s when the verdict comes down. Could this be another reason Baez wanted KC isolated from her family, because they would tell her or was it because they always planned to throw “Gas Can George under the bus” along with anyone else they can find?
You are an amazing atty !!!! Bravo once again!!!!
Judge P has order the STATE to turn over the Recording to him for his review!
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-07-20/news/os-casey-anthony-motion-20100720_1_casey-anthony-case-judge-orders-state-prison-inmate
If the inmate was using a “contraband cell phone” this whole thing would be a non-issue since the call NEVER would have been recorded in the first place. Why on earth even bring that nonsense up? If Baez truly believed the call originated from such, would he not have an ethical duty to report such activity? I am quite sure he never contacted prison authorities to report that he just received an unauthorized call from a prisoner using an illegally obtained cell phone! Way to dig a hole Baez.
Has anyone heard about/looked into Baez’s track record? More specifically, is this SOP for him – to argue cases in this (seemingly) inept & stumbling fashion? I’ve been really curious for a while now to know whether or not he practices/practiced this way in his other cases…or is it just this one because he’s in way over his head??
So what’s your take on this phone conversation, Richard? Don’t let us hanging here.
Completely off-topic, but is the following the inspiration for the title of your blog (bLAWg, bLOG, BLAHg)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP0kWqJJZa4
Thanks *Richard
So………because of Baez’s stupidity he thinks the call should be sealed? I foresee many many sanctions against the defence once the trial gets underway.
I can’t wait until trial time when I see Ashton and Burdick wipe up the courtroom floor with Bozo.
You have outdone yourself on this one, RH. Excellent analysis but even better presentation. I’m glad you are refusing to let other local criminal attorneys lower the bar for your profession.
If this latest little debacle doesn’t get Baez more than a slap on the wrist, is there still a chance the JAC could find egregious malfeasance in the way he handled Casey’s trust? I know they are probably doing a forensic audit, and that may take time, but it just seems odd that he has almost no discernable work product after two years and a quarter million bucks to spend. Your earlier info on the JAC was very enlightening, and I was hoping they would be up in his grill for mishandling and misappropriation of her funds. You mentioned he could lose his license to practice over that as well. What do you think the odds are this could happen?
Richard………..what do you think about the new news, defense investigating George?
It’s not really that shocking. It is the job of the mitigation specialist to look into any possible psycho-social issues that could be argued in Casey Anthony’s favor. Personally, I think it was Embellish trying to create a story where there was not one.
TYPOS….
a) “With that said, it is true that I too have received phone calls from inmates using the chaplain’s office, only come those call have come from inmates in a county jail – never in a prison
(You may need to add a few words for it to read better and a period at the end of the sentence)
b) “a conversation obtained in violation of Section 934.03, Florida Statutes, cannot be used in any legal proceeding against the . ”
(the sentence lost its ending-oops)
MR. Hornsby, Why would the defense cancel 2 weeks worth of Depos?
It seems to me they are spending more money and time on the Penalty phase than on defending Casey Anthony. We are talking about major witnesses in the case.
I realize that there is alot of work to be done on a case of this size so does it make since to keep putting off the much needed depos?
And if you had a lawyer on you case that specialized in foresic science would you not want her to be with the specialists who are going to examine the evidence.
Do you not find it strange that Linda Kenny Badin has yet to examine the car or any of the evidence that has been availible to the defense for well over a year?
Just more of “the same”…surely you aren’t surprised? Jose will do or say whatever it takes to drag this trial out. Now, they are trying to throw Geo. under the bus! I truly thought that things would really start moving with Judge Perry in charge. Not happening! This trial should have been OVER months ago. imo
p.s. I’m surprised u didn’t know that Jose only wears brown underwear!
Are they ever gong to do anything related to a defense in this case? Here we go again with endless motions and craziness over a Baez bumble.
Even if the telephone call between JB, and RL gets released to the public what are the chances the information actually makes it’s way into the trial? It seems there is so much more concrete evidence against KC that make these inmate conversations seem trivial. Truthfully, if I were a juror I’m not sure I would believe much of anything a convicted felon had to say.
I feel JB knew accepting a collect call from a inmate in prison was in fact recorded by the prison personel, but I feel he felt the info might be worth the penalty from the judge or bar.
The telephone conversation has absolutely no evidentiary value at all unless Robin Lunceford testifies. And even then its evidentiary value is limited to impeachment use.
The main value in the recording (to those interested in the side stories in the case) is the embarrassment it will cause Jose Baez.
Richard,
If Robin called a friend and the friend initiated a 3-way conversation with JB, then I would assume JB’s secretary would not have heard the prison notice that the phone call was being recorded. Does this change anything with respect to expectation of privacy? Or does the simple fact that he knew he was speaking with a prisoner (however the call was initiated) mean there was no expectation of privacy? Also, when a phone call is being recorded, aren’t there usually intermittent audible beeps to remind you of such?
Hallo mr Hornsby, I just have some questions
If, and only if, it turns out Casey was a victim of domestic abuse, would that make much difference in her penalty once it is proven she was the one responsable to the death of Caylee? Now if George loves his daughter and want her to live, will he have to say he molested her…?
Will the fact Casey was responsible for Caylees death be sufficient for a trial verdict? Or does there have to be more evidence than this smell in the car, some ductape and 31 days of not reporting to the police that Caylee was missing?
The list of witnesses will be very long, the pages of documents are well over 10.000 now; is this because the prosecution just doesn;t have enough evidence and is trying to overwhelme pros. jurors?
Thanks for answering 🙂
1. Any type of adverse sociological background could help her in the penalty phase – it is for the jury to decide how much weight to give to the evidence of past mistreatment.
2. Only a jury of 12 people will know how much evidence is enough to convict her as charged, or of a lesser charge if the greater charge is not proven to them beyond a reasonable doubt.
3. It has more to do with how long the case has gone on. You have all the evidence related to her disappearance and then you have all the evidence related to her discovery.
Mr Hornsby,
If JB plans are to bring up KC’s past childhood experiences with let’s say molestation charges, couldn’t the prosecution cite the case of Aileen Wornous. Ms. Wornous had the worse of worse childhoods, but was still given the DP, and has since been executed. It seems if a DP quaified jury finds KC guilty they have made up their mind that this crime was committed by the defendent, and proved by the prosecution through evidence, and witness testimonies beyond a reasonable doubt. Would that lean the jury towards recommending the DP. As per Andrea Lyon a death penalty jury is more likely to recommend the DP when finding the defendent guilty as her studies have shown.
Mr. Hornsby,
I did have another question for you, sir. Is it possible that JB could be accused of improper conduct if he told RL to go back, and get addtional info from MD without knowing if her conversations with MD were actually truthful or if they were in fact lies. Given RL past she has inserted herself into other cases with false information.
Thank you
No, asking someone to gather information is perfectly legal and ethical; it is only when you ask someone to lie that there is a problem.
Richard,
I just discovered your blog and I just heard you one the Watts rebroadcast and I have to say I loved it… When you told Angel you doubted that you would compete for clients I had to pause the replay because I was laughing my a$$ off.
I looked at your website of jury decisions and I have to say, its actually really amazing..
Anyway I don’t really have a question, like you said, it seems pretty straightforward. We have a mother who is very obviously guilty of something at the very least nets her 30 years, but more likely a needle in the arm.. I just wanted to say I appreciate the time you put into what you do, even when you aren’t defending those who pay you, you hone your skills by commentating on other cases and thusly putting your own reputation on the line, and I have to say its really honorable. I will never need a criminal defense attorney, but I do have to say if I did, and I lived in Florida I would give you a call in 5 seconds…
Please keep up the good work… and congratulations on your record… Its amazing.. Its nice to hear the HONEST words of an experienced attorney for us lay people who only know how to write software (me) or whatever it is we do…
What are the chances the inmate testimony will make it into trial.
Hey Richard..
I just listened to your interview with Roz Franklin ( a TOTAL IDIOT)…Aside from letting “ANGEL” , the moron, go on AD-NAUSEM, she has no clue what she is talking about ( and just loves to hear HERSELF go on and on.)..fyi….People want to listen to YOU—an expert in the legal field—not some faux reporter who speaks like a 14 year old ( you know like, blah blah blah…)..
Next time you go on the air, get her fired..It was torture having to listen to her….You are sooo above her league in every way…violette
Richard, Baez clearly “misrepresented that he was confused about the call from Lunceford, but it turns out to be TWO calls, one made directly to his cell phone in the evening! The STATE has stopped short of call the moron a LIAR!
Richard, when is Judge P going to doing something about Baez’s incompetence, imo, NeJames said “Judge P didn’t suffer fools lightly, WHEN is that going to happen?” This is outrageous!
The STATE said:
The message states the call is a “prepaid collect call” from a state inmate and that the call “is subject to recording and monitoring.”
An arrangement is made for the caller to call back at 7 p.m. to speak with Baez directly. At 7:01 p.m., inmate Lunceford calls again and “Mr. Baez hears the same warning detailed above and accepts the call,” Burdick’s response states.
imo, it was a pretty good article showing Baez again & again for the moron he is!
Richard, Baez clearly “misrepresented that he was confused about the call from Lunceford, but it turns out to be TWO calls, one made directly to his cell phone in the evening! The STATE has stopped short of call the moron a LIAR!
Richard, when is Judge P going to doing something about Baez’s incompetence, imo, NeJames said “Judge P didn’t suffer fools lightly, WHEN is that going to happen?” This is outrageous!
The STATE said:
The message states the call is a “prepaid collect call” from a state inmate and that the call “is subject to recording and monitoring.”
An arrangement is made for the caller to call back at 7 p.m. to speak with Baez directly. At 7:01 p.m., inmate Lunceford calls again and “Mr. Baez hears the same warning detailed above and accepts the call,” Burdick’s response states.
imo, it was a pretty good article showing Baez again & again for the moron he is!
Richard, if you haven’t read this today, it is hilarious, Val hal @ the Hinkey Meter clearly calling Baez out ! Too funny!
http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2010/07/27/hey-baez-viacoms-on-the-phone-they-need-to-tell-you-something/
Thank you for sharing your humor and wisdom!