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Jose Angel Baez (born October 17, 1969) is best known as the lead attorney for Casey Anthony.

Personal life

Jose Baez was born in 1969 in Puerto Rico.. He was raised by a single mother, growing up in the Bronx and South Florida. In the ninth grade, Baez dropped out of Homestead High School, got married and became a father at the age of 17. Having earned his GED diploma, he joined the 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.

On his return to civilian life, Baez attended Miami-Dade Community College and graduated from, Florida State University. As a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, he competed for the Lambda Alpha Epsilon fraternity of criminology majors at Florida State University. In 1997, Baez graduated from St. Thomas University Law School and applied to become a lawyer. In April 1998, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners denied him a license to practice law, a refusal which lasted for eight years. The Florida Supreme Court agreed with the decision and issued an order in 2000 citing unpaid bills, including his child support payments extravagant spending and other "financial irresponsibility" in that time frame. The court transcript indicated that he was unable to secure life and health insurance for his teenage daughter and that he had written bad checks in the past.

Baez started working as paralegal for Miami-Dade 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. Baez also worked for Lexis Nexis. 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. Demonstrating he had rehabilitated himself, Florida Bar Association granted him license to practice law in 2005.

Casey Anthony trial

Baez was hired as an attorney by Casey Anthony based upon the recommendation of a fellow inmate . As claimed by Anthony in a recorded conversation with her brother Lee on jailhouse tapes, Baez was mentioned by one of the female inmates whom Casey then asked to get in touch with Baez. Jose Baez visited her the next day and was named her lawyer. Her family had told Casey to replace the lawyer if the need should arise. At one time, Baez represented Mr. Nilton Diaz, who was convicted for the manslaughter of a girl. Diaz filed a motion requesting a new trial based on alleged ineffective assistance of counsel, but his motion was denied.

In March 2009, Circuit Judge Stan Strickland, who was presiding over the case at the time, notified the Florida Bar Association about ethical concerns on Baez. The concerns involved allegations that Baez had directed investigator Dominic Casey to "walk away" if he found Caylee Anthony's body during 2008 search and contact Baez instead of law enforcement. In December 2010, Judge Belvin Perry fined Baez for not complying with a court order. The State Attorney's Office released information about a tampering investigation against Baez. He later apologized to the court and prosecutors.

See Also

• Cheney Mason
• Timeline of Casey Anthony case

References

1. Date of birth
2. ^ "Casey Anthony trial QOD: Who is Jose Baez?". The Imperfect Parent. Retrieved 2011-06-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |author: Pamela Wallace date= ignored (help)
3. José Baez, Casey Anthony's Lawyer: From Troubled Son to Star Defense Attorney from FOX News 5 July 2011
4. Profile: Jose Baez from WSVN 6 July 2011
5. Casey Anthony’s lawyer Jose Baez came out of nowhere from the Miami Herald 5 July 2011
6. Casey Anthony lawyer rises from obscurity to legal fame from the Associated Press 13 July 2011
7. Casey Anthony's attorney gains fame from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune 12 July 2011
8. Terra Exclusive Interview with Baez
9. ^ Jessica Hopper (2011-06-08). "Casey Anthony's Lawyer Jose Baez Has Trials of His Own". ABC News. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
10. Anthony Colarossi (2011-02-02). "Florida Bar confirms new complaint against Jose Baez". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
11. "Casey Attorney Jose Baez Under Investigation". WESH. 2011-02-02. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
12. "Jose Baez apologizes in court". Casey Anthony: The Trial. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-06-22.