Who will handle Casey Anthony's death-penalty case?

Prosecutors want to know who on Casey Anthony's defense team is qualified to handle her case.

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By Sarah Lundy

Sentinel Staff Writer
May 8, 2009

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Prosecutors want to know who on Casey Anthony's legal team is qualified to handle a death-penalty case, according to paperwork filed Thursday in Orange Circuit Court.

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And Anthony's lead attorney, José Baez, promptly filed an objection, saying the new lawyer would be revealed before the next hearing.

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Florida law requires experienced attorneys — who meet certain qualifications — be the attorney of record in death-penalty cases...Anthony remains in the Orange County Jail...

Baez does not meet the death-penalty criteria, which includes having five years' trial experience and being lead attorney in at least nine state or federal jury trials of serious or complex cases.

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In his objection, Baez said despite the fact he speaks to Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick nearly every day and even spent Tuesday with her questioning witnesses, no one in the State Attorney's Office has asked about a new attorney on the case.

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Regardless, Baez's spokeswoman, Marti Mackenzie, said the issue will be moot soon. A new death-qualified attorney has joined the team and will be at a hearing scheduled later this month. She would not identify the attorney.

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"At that time, the defense will introduce the highly qualified and outstanding death-qualified attorney as the newest member of the defense team," she said. The defense team briefly brought in Miami attorney Terence Lenamon, who handles capital-punishment cases. Last fall, he wrote a report outlining why prosecutors should not go for the death penalty against Anthony.

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In October, the state announced it was not going to seek it. Once the decision was made, Lenamon was no longer part of the defense team. Two months later, the remains were found, which led to prosecutors changing their minds.

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In April, they filed paperwork, stating they were going to seek the death penalty. Meanwhile Thursday, CNN announced that Anthony's parents, George and Cindy Anthony, will appear on Larry King Live on Wednesday. King will ask the questions. George and Cindy Anthony were on King's show Dec. 10, the night before Caylee's remains were found.