Casey Anthony, today in court. Casey was last seen October 14
Revision: 3:30 CST additional content added
Judge Strickland Orders Casey Anthony to Be Present In The Courtroom For Hearings. Also Orders State To Turn Over Photos To Defense, Defense Ordered To Keep Evidence On Secure Server
Casey Anthony was in court Thursday afternoon after being forced by the judge to attend a hearing.
Casey had the right to waive her appearance, however Judge Stan Strickland ordered her to appear in court when he learned she had not done so.
WATCH LIVE: 1:30PM Hearing In Criminal Case
CASEY AT COURT: See Images /Casey Walks In
Casey was brought into the courtroom in shackles around 2:55, nearly an hour and a half after the hearing began.
The state argues she has to attend all her pretrial hearings.
Since she did not formally waive her right to attend Thursday's hearing, Judge Stan Strickland made her come into court.
It was the first time Casey had been seen since she was formally charged with first-degree murder on October 14. Dressed in a blue jail jumpsuit, she showed no emotion and often times stared at the table during the court appearance.
Originally, Casey did not show up for the hearing, even though state statue requires defendants to attend all pre-trial hearings unless they make a written request to waive their right to attend, but Judge Strickland ordered her pulled from her cell.
Judge Strickland explained to her, from now on, if she wants to waive her right to attend she must put it in writing, however, it will still be under the court's discretion and no guarantee she will not have to appear.
(images / raw video)
Judge Stan Strickland asked her to identify herself and then informed her of the details surrounding the motion and her option to waive her right to appear.
The hearing began at 1:30pm and the court went into recess around 2:40pm as Judge Stan Strickland considered arguments over the release of x-rays and photos needed for a second autopsy on the remains of Caylee Anthony. Prosecutors said they don't want the pictures sold to the tabloids.
Around 2:55pm, with Casey Anthony now a part of the courtroom attendees, the judge heard further arguments regarding the state's request
Judge Strickland ruled around 3:00pm that the state does have to provide the x-rays and photos, going against the state's request, but required that Baez keep them secure and, ultimately, have them put on a secured computer server. He's not allowed to do anything with them before they are put on the secured server or copy or transmit them in any way.
Caylee was 2 years old when she went missing in June, but her remains were not found until December. She had been missing for about a month before her mother reported it. Casey Anthony has been charged with first-degree murder and other charges.
Casey: still smiling, while America weeps for Caylee
Casey remained stone faced throughout the hearings except for one moment. When her attorney, Jose Baez, presented motion for access to the photographs, he argued that "held his client's life in his hands", and that he would personally take the precautions needed to prevent the photos from being released. Casey raised her head, and smiled directly at Baez after the comment. Photo above.
CASEY'S DEFENSE TEAM GETS LEGAL VICTORY IN CIVIL SUIT
Lawyers for Casey Anthony won a legal fight Thursday to keep her from giving a deposition under oath. An Orange County judge ruled that Casey will not have to give a deposition next week in a defamation lawsuit filed by a woman named Zenaida Gonzalez.
The 11:00am hearing was one of two hearings set for Thursday in separate cases against Casey Anthony.
ZENAIDA ATTORNEY: Interview After Court Hearing
RAW VIDEO: Hearing On Deposition
TEAM COVERAGE: Legal Victory For Casey
Casey Anthony's defense team filed a motion regarding the civil case with Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez, who is suing Casey for defamation of character.
The motion Thursday was the defense's effort to keep Casey from having to attend a scheduled deposition on Monday. The defense didn't want Casey to speak about the civil case until after her criminal murder trial, because Casey could potentially say something incrimination.
Zenaida Gonzalez, her attorneys Keith Mitnik and John Morgan and Casey's attorney, Jose Baez, were all in the courtroom. Zenaida's attorneys claim delaying the deposition delays clearing Zenaida's name.
"The only hope of trying to recapture one's reputation is to move at the speed of light," attorney Keith Mitnik argued on behalf of Zenaida.
Mitnik has previously said all they want is for Casey to make it clear that this Zenaida Gonzalez, a mother of six, is not the Zenaida that Casey has accused of kidnapping Caylee.
After nearly an hour of hearing arguments from both sides, the judge ruled that only questions in writing could be submitted, not a video deposition under oath as had been scheduled. The judge said it would be a more efficient way to determine what questions were appropriate to ask.
The defense now has 30 days to respond once the plantiff sends over written questions.
content courtesy WFTV for Breaking News
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