Will Casey Anthony's Murder Trial Be Delayed?
An order came down on Wednesday, involving the possible delay of Casey Anthony's murder trial. The public may have to wait an extra 48 hours to find out when the trial will start. The latest order came from a panel of judges who are deciding whether a petition filed by media outlets, that do not include WFTV, have a right to know before the trial, where the jury will come from.
Casey's trial date was set for May 9, but now, it's up in the air. The Fifth District Court of Appeal panel is giving Chief Judge Belvin Perry, prosecutors, defense lawyers and the State Attorney General until Friday morning at 10:00am, to weigh in on the media outlet's challenge. The three Fifth District Court of Appeal judges deciding whether a media challenge will delay Casey's murder trial are Jacqueline Griffin, Kerry Evander and William Palmer.
Casey's trial date was set for May 9, but now, it's up in the air. The Fifth District Court of Appeal panel is giving Chief Judge Belvin Perry, prosecutors, defense lawyers and the State Attorney General until Friday morning at 10:00am, to weigh in on the media outlet's challenge. The three Fifth District Court of Appeal judges deciding whether a media challenge will delay Casey's murder trial are Jacqueline Griffin, Kerry Evander and William Palmer.
WFTV was told they were considering the matter on Wednesday afternoon, behind closed doors. A "2 to 1" or unanimous vote carries.
WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said the conservative makeup of that panel indicates to him that the news organizations wanting to force the immediate disclosure of the secret jury selection location will lose.
"They, like Judge Perry, are going to be more concerned with Casey Anthony's right to a fair trial than the right of early disclosure to the news media," Sheaffer said.
Perry is concerned that the probable flood of publicity that would wash over that county would taint the jury pool there and make a May, 2011 fair trial impossible. Almost three years into the case, he's concerned about lost witnesses and lost memories."Memories are not like fine wine, they don't get better with age, do they?" Perry said.
If the Fifth DCA panel sides with Perry, Sheaffer said it would be based on sound reasoning. A petition to the Florida Supreme Court would stand an even lesser chance.WFTV was told there will be a Fifth DCA ruling. The issue will not just drop. If there's no opinion or explanation accompanying that ruling, that would be the end of it; no Supreme Court review. Perry also has to decide if some never-before-used scientific air test evidence will be used against Casey.
WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said the conservative makeup of that panel indicates to him that the news organizations wanting to force the immediate disclosure of the secret jury selection location will lose.
"They, like Judge Perry, are going to be more concerned with Casey Anthony's right to a fair trial than the right of early disclosure to the news media," Sheaffer said.
Perry is concerned that the probable flood of publicity that would wash over that county would taint the jury pool there and make a May, 2011 fair trial impossible. Almost three years into the case, he's concerned about lost witnesses and lost memories."Memories are not like fine wine, they don't get better with age, do they?" Perry said.
If the Fifth DCA panel sides with Perry, Sheaffer said it would be based on sound reasoning. A petition to the Florida Supreme Court would stand an even lesser chance.WFTV was told there will be a Fifth DCA ruling. The issue will not just drop. If there's no opinion or explanation accompanying that ruling, that would be the end of it; no Supreme Court review. Perry also has to decide if some never-before-used scientific air test evidence will be used against Casey.
Category Article casey anthony, delayed, murder
