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May 28, 2009

Death penalty lawyer joins Casey Anthony defense team

Posted: 04:24 PM ET

NEW YORK – We got our first look at a new member of the Casey Anthony defense team inside an Orlando, Florida court Thursday and she will play the primary role in saving Anthony's life.

Casey Anthony with Jose Baez, far left, and new attorney Andrea Lyon, right

Anthony is facing the death penalty, if convicted of first-degree murder charges involving the death of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee.

Attorney Jose Baez introduced Andrea D. Lyon to the judge and prosecutors at a hearing Thursday. Lyon is qualified to handle death penalty cases, Baez is not. He informed the court of her resume, "Professor Lyon has tried over 130 homicide cases. In [sic] over 30 of those occasions, the state has attempted to seek the death penalty and it had never been successful."

Lyon is a clinical professor of law at the DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, where she also directs the law school's Center for Justice in Capital Cases. Her resume includes a stint as a former public defender in Illinois, where she served on the homicide task force.

Lyon plans to file motions challenging the state's use of the death penalty.

The two sides also argued over two critical defense motions. Anthony's attorneys were hoping to convince the judge to prevent authorities from releasing jailhouse video which allegedly shows Anthony breaking down when learning that the remains of her daughter were found last December 11. Defense attorney Todd Macaluso reacted to any plan to release the tape by saying, "This is cruel. This is inhumane. This is illegal."

The court would not rule on the matter until a hearing with the media was scheduled to determine why the video should be public record.

On another issue, the judge ruled that the defense can access some of the cell phone records they were seeking, but asked Anthony's attorneys to refile a more narrowly focused motion for the records of Anthony's former fiancé, Jesse Grund, Anthony's former friend Amy Huizenga and meter reader Roy Kronk - whose phone tip led to the discovery of Caylee's remains.

The trial is currently slated to begin October 12.

-Bob Regan, In Session senior executive producer

Filed under: Casey and Caylee Anthony


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abozeman   May 29th, 2009 9:18 am ET

Casey Anthony should take a plead of life in prison with no parole because she will be convicted and put to death.

Paula   May 29th, 2009 2:08 pm ET

I have watch and listened to this Anthony case from the beginning. And with all that's said I do think Casey will either get life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
I guess that would depend on the jury and what's said in court when it comes.
Paula from Brooklyn

wayne Deja   May 29th, 2009 8:03 pm ET

Casey.....Looks to me your eating well in jail awaiting your trial date!!!

TX Brat   May 29th, 2009 10:10 pm ET

I believe Ms Lyon is about to receive her first DP defeat.

LauraJ   May 30th, 2009 11:13 am ET

I agree with both comments,however she has some defense "team".How is she paying for the 2 big female names ????.her mom looked miserable in the courtroom the other day & when Casey came in did not even glance her way,she kissed & greeted all her attorneys....i also have a feeling this is going to take longer to get to trial

AM   June 1st, 2009 8:50 am ET

I stopped following the case when the body was found – did she ever take a polygraph test, and were any other actual suspects ever identified?

Lisa   June 1st, 2009 2:52 pm ET

Casey Anthony is GUILTY! This I am sure of!

ron b   June 1st, 2009 9:34 pm ET

I think most media have forgotten one of the most powerful rules of law inocent until proven guilty Lawyers seem to forget no one acts the same way in a trial if thats the case then everyone would have a blank expression

John Lennon   June 1st, 2009 9:53 pm ET

I agree with tx brat. I think Ms Lyon is up against a losing battle. I think her getting a trial is a waste of money. I don`t know where she`s getting the money for these attorneys. Baez must be selling her story or something cause i doubt that her mother is dishing out money for all this. Casey didn`t look at her mom cause Casey is out for Casey and no one else. Her mom just wants tv exposure. I wouldn`t want exposure if my daughter did something like Casey did. Her sentence should be the death penalty to make her realize that all this is not funny anymore!!!!

Miriam   June 2nd, 2009 12:06 pm ET

Casey Anthony will probably squiggle, wiggle and squirm out of this.

Susan Smith   September 3rd, 2009 5:36 pm ET

I hope the Jury of Florida residents that are picked for this Trial will see clearly that these Defense Attorneys chosen are high profile and trying to make tons of money and publiclity off of this little child's horrible murder.
Please Florida, prove we are better & smarter than California. Don't let another travisty of Justice take place.
Find Casey Anthony Guilty of Murder in the First Degree.

wc   October 9th, 2009 12:55 pm ET

Casey Anthony is entitled to a fair trial.....as every citizen in the United States.......regardless who thinks she is guilty or not guilty. We have the best jucicial system in the world.......innocent until proven guilty and that is powerful. That is a protection for you and I alike.

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