‘Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies’: Who is Jose Baez? 'Famous' lawyer helped to acquit another 'killer'
The disappearance and murder of Caylee Anthony left the country furious as many looked at the two-year-old’s own mother, Casey, suspiciously. All clues seemed to point at Casey, and her many lies did not help. To clear her name, Casey hired Jose Baez and his team as her defense. What ensued was a riveting court case with many twists and turns, including allegations of sexual assault, rumored affairs and a verdict that caused thousands of Americans to question the law.
For Baez, taking on Casey's case mightily helped his career and made the attorney famous. As many started associating him with the infamous case, his name soon became a household name. However, fame was not so easy for the lawyer. From speculations of having an affair with his client, Casey, to being called out for his “sexual abuse” accusations against Casey’s father, George Anthony, Baez soon earned the title of “the most hated lawyer in America.” Now, after decades, Casey is set to explain her side of the events in a new Peacock docu-series titled, ‘Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies.’ The documentary will feature an interview with Casey and people who have known her. While it is unknown if Baez will appear in the three-part series, the news of the documentary has surely created a buzz among many about the attorney and his story.
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Who is Jose Baez?
According to the bio on Baez’s law firm’s website, “Jose A Baez is an experienced trial lawyer who has represented clients in the full range of criminal and civil cases. He is best known for “shocking the world” in what TIME Magazine dubbed the “Social Media Trial of the Century.” Mr. Baez’s practice has a particular emphasis on representing clients in complex and high-profile criminal and civil cases. However, many of Mr. Baez’s successes never make it into the spotlight as he has represented celebrities and athletes who prefer anonymity.”
According to Fox News, Baez’s history is just as intriguing as his career. Baez grew up in the Bronx, NY, and South Florida, raised by a single mother. He dropped out of school during the ninth grade and married at 17. He even became a father around the time. Fatherhood prompted him to turn his life around as he earned his GED and joined the Navy. Eventually, he found his calling in a career as a lawyer and returned to college.
In 1997, Baez graduated from St Thomas University School of Law in South Florida. However, life was not all rosy for the Puerto Rico-born lawyer, as troubles arose in the form of a divorce and the inability to keep up with $200 child support payments for his only child. On the brink of bankruptcy, finances were in such disarray that he was not allowed to practice law. He didn’t give up and he started four businesses, including two bikini companies called Bon Bon Bikinis and Brazilian-Bikinis.com, until he was finally allowed to be admitted into the bar in September 2005. Things started looking up when in 2009, he took up the Casey's case, a case that gave the inexperienced Baez new heights of success and fame. His help in acquitting Casey of her charges gave him new opportunities as a successful attorney.
Did Jose Baez have an affair with Casey Anthony?
When Casey filed for bankruptcy in 2013, her former private investigator Dominic Casey alleged in 2016 that she and her lead defense investigator, Baez, had a sexual relationship before the latter represented her in her trial. Dominic even questioned how Casey paid her lawyers’ fees and alleged that the mother of slain Caylee paid Baez with sexual favors. Dominic made the claims in a 15-page affidavit related to Casey's bankruptcy case. He claimed he heard Baez tell his client that she owed him “three b**w j**s” after he canceled a media interview for her. He wrote in the affidavit, “Casey told me she had to do what Jose said because she had no money for her defense.” He even wrote of an incident in which he arrived unexpectedly at Baez’s office and found Casey naked. The private investigator claimed that the once-accused mother had admitted to Baez of her crime, telling him that she had killed Caylee. He noted she told Baez that she had “dumped the body somewhere, and he needed all the help he could get to find the body before anyone else did.”
According to USA today, Baez vehemently denied the allegations, writing to PEOPLE, “I unequivocally and categorically deny exchanging sex for legal services with Ms. Anthony.” He added, “I further unequivocally and categorically deny having any sexual relationship with Ms. Anthony whatsoever.”
What did Jose Baez do after the Casey Anthony case?
After gaining widespread fame after the Casey trial, Baez went on to garner more success in his career. He made headlines for the George Zimmerman trial. While Baez was not directly connected to the trial, he represented a detective who investigated the case. Later, the lawyer was back in the spotlight for representing NFL player Aaron Hernandez, who faced his second murder trial. The former pro football player, accused of murdering two men, was acquitted because of Baez. however, Hernandez ended his life by suicide before Baez could get ready to appeal the NFL player’s first murder conviction.
Baez’s most reputable client was the film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein, who hired him after the previous lawyer left. Weinstein had requested explicitly for Baez, who had reportedly asked $1M to cover his fee, which Weinstein did not pay, causing the attorney to request to be relieved from the case citing poor communication, and “fundamental disagreements." However, this did not sit well with his ex-client, who sued him in 2021. Baez was also part of the defense team for Dr William Husel, who was accused of murdering 14 patients when he overprescribed them the painkiller fentanyl in 2018. According to PEOPLE, the lawyer had claimed during the trial that his client was a “scapegoat” and that the entire prosecution “was a travesty.” While the doctor claimed that he cared for his patients and thought the doses were adequate, the jury agreed with the defense and acquitted the defendant of all charges.
As of now, he is currently on the faculty at Harvard Law School, where he teaches trial techniques to second-and third-year law students in one of the university’s most popular courses. Baez is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and is extremely active in various charitable endeavors in the Hispanic community.
‘Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies’ will premiere on Peacock on November 29.