Casey Anthony Trial: Day 1

Judge Perry showed a great deal of patience and skill in initially screening jurors today in Day One of the Casey Anthony trial.

Previously, he had denied the defense's attempt to keep the air sample technology out, and, though hard to believe, refused another Baez request for more time delay. Baez' desperation was apparent in previous attempts for more time, but Perry has reached a limit: no more delay tactics.

It is interesting to listen to Judge Perry's initial screening of prospective jurors, especially of mothers.

One mother of a 5 year old sought to be excused after describing her son as her priority, while both she and her husband are in school. She said, "Being a mom is different than being a dad" but her reasoning did not rise to the level of dismissal. Should she be interviewed by defense and prosecution, it will be interesting to see what the defense makes of such a caring young mom.


WFTV reported on Casey's demeanor in the beginning of what should prove to be a 2 month trial:

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Casey Anthony cried in court as Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Belvin Perry read the charges against her during jury selection for her high-profile murder trial on Monday in Pinellas County.

The search for the 12 jurors and 8 alternates began in Clearwater. Perry kept the location secret until early Monday morning.
Casey was booked into the Pinellas County Jail just before 6:30pm on Sunday (booking info) .
Casey is accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, putting the body in the trunk of her car, and then discarding it in a wooded area behind her home. Caylee was reported missing in the summer of 2008.
Casey sat with her attorneys by her side, wearing a light blue shirt, gray slacks and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her parents, George and Cindy Anthony, were not there.
Casey, 25, is charged with first-degree murder, and any juror that couldn't recommend death would be disqualified.
Monday is being spent on identifying jurors in the first panel that qualify for "hardship dismissals," meaning they had some personal reason that would preclude them from devoting the 6-8 weeks the trial is expected to last. Those potential jurors that aren't dismissed for hardship reasons are being notified to come back for further rounds of questioning later in the weeks.


Pinellas County
Defense attorney Jose Baez objected to the first panel of about 100 people in its entirety, saying that it wasn't representative of Orlando's demographics because it had only two Hispanic and four African-American jurors.
Perry denied the objection and questioning of the panelists began.
By 6:00am, Orange County officials confirmed Pinellas County would be the location for jury selection in Casey's murder trial. It's not clear if either visitors or potential jurors had any idea what they were walking into as they arrived to a sea of television cameras and curious onlookers Monday morning.
However, defense attorneys Jose Baez and Cheney Mason quickly moved inside to begin jury selection.
"We are about to begin jury selection in the case of the state against Casey Anthony," Perry stated.
As Perry began explaining the instructions to the jury pool, Casey began to cry.
"Do not discuss this case among yourselves," Perry ordered to the selected jury.
However, there was a little humor when the lights inside the courtroom went out briefly while Perry read the indictment.
Judge Perry did not waste any time in regards to questioning potential jurors.
"We will go through the 110 people today," he stated.
Perry wants opening arguments to begin on May 17.
Casey could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder. She also is charged with aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and providing false information to law enforcement. She has pleaded not guilty and says a babysitter kidnapped Caylee.
After 12 jurors and 8 alternates are picked to hear Casey's case, they will face several restrictions after they're brought back to Orlando for the trial.
The court will provide hotel rooms, food and transportation for the duration of the trial.
During that time, the court will have control over where the jurors go, what they read and watch on television, and how often they speak with their families.
Restrictions are not always so tight. In most capital cases, the jury is only sequestered during deliberations.
It's been 20 years since Orange County sequestered a jury for an entire trial.
Perry also announced on Monday that air tests that prosecutors said prove Caylee's body was in Casey's car trunk will be admitted into trial (read judge's order).
The question originated in Casey's mother's mind when Cindy Anthony made a 2008 call to 911, saying it smelled like there was a dead body in the trunk.
Cindy's story soon changed as her daughter faced murder charges. She later said it was a rotten pizza in the trunk.
WFTV tested that theory in 2008, but now a much more scientific test is being allowed as evidence for the first time ever in a murder trial.
It's called a "gas chromatograph" and prosecutors say the machine can prove the existence of the smell of death.
Casey's tears may have been a realization that her defense team has lost every single battle over the admission of evidence in the case, from pictures, to testimony, to air samples.