Jose Baez Complaints Confirmed by Florida Bar
For the first time, the Florida Bar has released information about the Jose Baez complaints, confirming suspicions as to their content.
Both ethics complaints stem from Baez's representation of Casey Anthony during her murder trial and the subsequent probation fiasco. And as suspected, they concern comments made by Judge Belvin Perry.
Moreover, the initial investigation was recently sent to a grievance committee, which will now determine whether there is sufficient probable cause to bring formal charges.
The first of the two charges is a direct response to sanctions imposed by Judge Perry in January 2011. The judge had ordered both parties to share detailed information about expert witnesses in hopes of avoiding any surprises, reports the Orlando Sentinel.
Jose Baez repeatedly failed to comply with the court order, and was thus sanctioned and made to pay a fine.
The second of the Jose Baez complaints stems to more recent activity regarding Anthony's probation. In January 2010, she pleaded guilty to check fraud, and was sentenced to serve probation after she left jail. An error allowed her to serve probation during her prison stay. Baez knew of the error and said nothing.
Perry raised the question of an ethics investigation, writing that "the failure to notify the court of a known scrivener's error in the order may be a violation of an attorney's duty of candor."
Despite the public nature of the above events, a final determination may take months. How do you think the Florida Bar will handle the Jose Baez complaints? And how should they?
Related Resources:
- Jose Baez tired of hearing about state bar complaints (WTSP-TV)
- Casey Anthony Trial Judge Admonishes, Threatens Lawyers (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Jose Baez: From Unknown Jailhouse Lawyer to 'Luckiest Man in America' (FindLaw's Strategist)