The closing arguments are ongoing in the case of the State of Florida v. Casey Marie Anthony. I have only watched a few minutes of Jeff Ashton's masterful recounting of the evidence, split-screen with a shot of the defendant. Of course, everyone is waiting to hear what Jose Baez has to say, especially as Judge Perry has ruled that he may not discuss those sexual abuse allegations against Lee and George.
While waiting for the recess to end, I was reading on my Facebook page and learned with the greatest sadness that one of my coworkers lost her husband in a terrible accident yesterday. He was only 30 years old. The phrase "I am sorry for your loss" says nothing and everything. My personal pain at the thought of a young adult - practically a child by my time line - having to deal with death and widowhood is profound. At the same time, it is not my place to express that and add to her pain. And thus that shopworn phrase. As a mother, as a human being, it hurts to watch others in the worst pain imaginable. It is also a selfish indulgence to express that to the bereaved. My sadness is nothing; her sadness is everything. May a gracious God watch over her and give her the strength she will need.
I was planning on watching Attorney Baez do his closing, but after he fumphfed a few dozen times, I gave up and came back to the computer. Yes, he did try to pull another fast one, using a photo of his client at the age of 15 as part of a chart entitled "Casey's Imaginary Friends" but the state and Judge Perry shut him down before the jury ever got to see it. It was, I think, the final example of a certain disingenuousness from this attorney that has pervaded the proceedings. For when Judge Perry asked when the photo had been taken, and then how old Ms. Anthony had been in 2001, Jose Baez pled ignorance. In addition to an almost complete absence of knowledge of the law and court procedure, Mr. Baez is apparently unable to perform simple arithmetic computations. Jose, you disingenuous dork, ASA Linda Burdick was absolutely correct when she said your client was 15 years old in that picture. Like you didn't know.
During the state's closing argument, Casey cried. And cried. And cried. But not so much that she messed up her mascara. She has been very careful throughout the trial, during those few times she shed tears, to pat her eyes so as not to smear her mascara, and today was no different.
LATER: Cheney Mason's part of the closing argument sounded like a generic speech he wrote during his first few years out of law school. The old country lawyer invoking the Constitution. Sound and fury, signifying nothing. State's rebuttal tomorrow.
I still have a family to feed, and managed to fit a trip to Publix in among the legal proceedings. There are plans afoot for cooking, and I finally settled on a spinach-shrimp salad with hot bacon dressing, seafood manicotti with a smoked salmon alfredo sauce, and an Italian sausage and vegetable soup. Once I got there, I also found a really nice piece of chuck pot roast, and although the rest of the cooking will be done tomorrow, I threw together a few things and came out with a pretty simple but really tasty dish. Yeah, I do share recipes. Check the sister blog for the details.
One more thing about the court proceedings - Judge Perry had another opportunity to admonish the attorneys in this case; this time it had to do with ASA Jeff Ashton having a hard time keeping a straight face while Jose Baez wailed the blues. Dear God in Heaven, I thought Jose was going to start to cry as his voice shook and quavered through his closing remarks. That rated as one of the worst closing arguments I've ever seen. His Trial Practice professor should be chastised for failing to explain to Jose that there is a big difference between expressing righteous indignation and lapsing into uncontrolled hysteria during a closing. I realize that Judge Perry is determined to maintain the decorum of a courtroom, but smiling or smirking behind my hands would have been my least reaction, assuming I was the state attorney, if I'd been forced to listen to Baez's drivel. When he called Ashton "that laughing man" and everybody objected, it was the best comic relief since Ashton's pig in blanket quip a few weeks back.
More road-blog-a-logue - from mostly sunny Little Rock:
June 24, 2011
Friday, June 24.
Never mind the year. June 24 is always an important day for me, because it is my father's yahrzeit - the memorial day of his death. When June 24 falls on a Friday, it is particularly poignant for me, as he died on a Friday, just as the setting sun signaled the beginning of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.
Twenty eight years and I still miss him. I wish I could talk to him one more time. I have so many questions, and I want so much to tell him about his grandson. It would be a long conversation.
It is freezing here in the convention center. While it is true that I am making good progress on the Antimony shawl, there is no way I am going to get it done in time to stay warm today.
What an exciting day! Rob won third place, and Charles won second place in their respective rings for sparring. We had barbecue at Whole Hog for dinner. And the New York State Senate has just passed a law legalizing same sex marriage.
During the state's closing argument, Casey cried. And cried. And cried. But not so much that she messed up her mascara. She has been very careful throughout the trial, during those few times she shed tears, to pat her eyes so as not to smear her mascara, and today was no different.
LATER: Cheney Mason's part of the closing argument sounded like a generic speech he wrote during his first few years out of law school. The old country lawyer invoking the Constitution. Sound and fury, signifying nothing. State's rebuttal tomorrow.
I still have a family to feed, and managed to fit a trip to Publix in among the legal proceedings. There are plans afoot for cooking, and I finally settled on a spinach-shrimp salad with hot bacon dressing, seafood manicotti with a smoked salmon alfredo sauce, and an Italian sausage and vegetable soup. Once I got there, I also found a really nice piece of chuck pot roast, and although the rest of the cooking will be done tomorrow, I threw together a few things and came out with a pretty simple but really tasty dish. Yeah, I do share recipes. Check the sister blog for the details.
One more thing about the court proceedings - Judge Perry had another opportunity to admonish the attorneys in this case; this time it had to do with ASA Jeff Ashton having a hard time keeping a straight face while Jose Baez wailed the blues. Dear God in Heaven, I thought Jose was going to start to cry as his voice shook and quavered through his closing remarks. That rated as one of the worst closing arguments I've ever seen. His Trial Practice professor should be chastised for failing to explain to Jose that there is a big difference between expressing righteous indignation and lapsing into uncontrolled hysteria during a closing. I realize that Judge Perry is determined to maintain the decorum of a courtroom, but smiling or smirking behind my hands would have been my least reaction, assuming I was the state attorney, if I'd been forced to listen to Baez's drivel. When he called Ashton "that laughing man" and everybody objected, it was the best comic relief since Ashton's pig in blanket quip a few weeks back.
More road-blog-a-logue - from mostly sunny Little Rock:
June 24, 2011
We are at the Statehouse Convention Center to watch Master Casco test for 7th degree black belt. Rob's brother Charles arrived here last night, and both he and Rob will be testing for top ten in their respective groups later this afternoon. Walking around the convention center, I spied one of the screens broadcasting the daily events at the precise moment it flashed the date.
Friday, June 24.
Never mind the year. June 24 is always an important day for me, because it is my father's yahrzeit - the memorial day of his death. When June 24 falls on a Friday, it is particularly poignant for me, as he died on a Friday, just as the setting sun signaled the beginning of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.
My Pop, sometime between 1973 and 1978
Twenty eight years and I still miss him. I wish I could talk to him one more time. I have so many questions, and I want so much to tell him about his grandson. It would be a long conversation.
It is freezing here in the convention center. While it is true that I am making good progress on the Antimony shawl, there is no way I am going to get it done in time to stay warm today.
Master Fidel Casco preparing to test for seventh degree
What an exciting day! Rob won third place, and Charles won second place in their respective rings for sparring. We had barbecue at Whole Hog for dinner. And the New York State Senate has just passed a law legalizing same sex marriage.
My brother in law Charles takes second place
Rob takes third place - don't mess with this group of guys, they've got mad skills!
Don't forget to stop by the recipe blog for the Italian pot roast recipe. Hey, it was cheaper than the brisket!
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