Is Jose Baez worried about Casey Anthony’s Appearance?

Defense attorneys Jose Baez and Linda Kenney Baden chose to speak to the press following a hearing on January 30, 2009.

We will examine the replies of Jose Baez to queries concerning the evolving look of Casey Anthony from flag-draped party girl to business-suit matron.  The comments of Mr. Baez may be heard in the video at the following link.

http://www.wftv.com/video/18605921/index.html

Jose Baez: “What you saw today is Casey. I don’t know what you mean by different. Maybe the clothing is different, but she’s the same person and that’s Casey.”

Jose Baez: “I think you guys are paying so much attention to it, it really goes back to my objections. It’s irrelevant what she’s wearing, what her nails look like, and that has nothing to do with her guilt or innocence, so, I mean, you know, what… what can I say about that honestly?”

“What you saw today is Casey” – Mr. Baez tells the reporters they saw Casey Anthony.

“I don’t know what you mean by different” – Mr. Baez feigns ignorance of the meaning of the word “different”.  Mr. Baez feigns ignorance of the altered attire choices of his client.  Mr. Baez implies the meaning of words such as “different” are not the same for all speakers of English.  Mr. Baez would know what he means by “different”, but he does not know “what you mean”.

“Maybe the clothing is different” – Mr. Baez states perhaps “the clothing” is not the same.  “Maybe” indicates the Mr. Baez does not wish to admit the “clothing is different”.  However, he does acknowledge “the clothing is different”.  Mr. Baez overcomes his inability to decipher the word “different” by nailing down the exact aspect of his client which is “different” and caused the reporters to question him.

“but she’s the same person” – “But” indicates “maybe” is false and the “clothing” truly is “different”.  Even with “different” clothes, “she’s the same person”.  If she is the killer, she is still the killer no matter what outfit she wears to court.  If she is innocent, she is innocent in a burlap sack or a gown.  Mr. Baez implies clothes do not make a difference in court.

“and that’s Casey” – Mr. Baez is sensitive about “same person” and must define who the “same person” is.  Mr. Baez distances himself “Casey” with “that”.

“I think you guys are paying so much attention to it” – Mr. Baez uses the strong “I”, but the weak “think”.  He thinks, but does not know.  What he thinks may not be the thoughts of others, who may think they are not paying enough attention to the dress of Casey Anthony.  Mr. Baez wishes “you guys” would pay less “attention to it”.  This topic worries Mr. Baez and he attempts to re-direct the “attention” of “you guys” elsewhere.

“it really goes back to my objections” – Paying attention to the clothing Ms. Anthony wears to court “goes back” to “objections” of Jose Baez.  Mr. Baez objects to anyone noticing the clothes Casey Anthony wears in public court hearings.  The phrase “really goes back” is interesting as we must ask how does the topic of Casey Anthony’s clothes go anywhere, back or forwards, up or down?  It doesn’t “really”.  Mr. Baez must insert the word “really” to convince the listeners a topic is able to take action as a person and move in a direction of it’s own volition.  The topic goes nowhere.  It is Mr. Baez who “really goes back”.  He “goes back” to “my objections” which have already been dismissed.  Mr. Baez changes the topic to suit his own agenda.

“It’s irrelevant what she’s wearing” – Mr. Baez states the irrelevant nature of Ms. Anthony’s clothing after telling us it doesn’t matter what she wears, she is the same person.  Thus, Mr. Baez repeats the same idea, marking it as sensitive to him.  It is important to Mr. Baez to convince the listeners what Ms. Anthony wears is “irrelevant”.  Elsewhere in the interview, Mr. Baez refuses to answer questions based on his feeling of what an attorney should and should not do.  Here, he spends time discussing “irrelevant” items, not refusing to answer.  He is sensitive about this topic.

“what her nails look like” – Mr. Baez introduces Ms. Anthony’s “nails”.  Something about Ms. Anthony’s nails bother Mr. Baez as he focuses upon them even though they are not clothing.

“and that has nothing to do with her guilt or innocence” – Mr. Baez believes the appearance of Ms. Anthony, the “that” from which Mr. Baez distances himself, “has nothing to do with her guilt or innocence”.  Ms. Anthony’s “guilt or innocence” is determined by something other than her clothing.  Mr. Baez limits what her “nails” and “what she’s wearing” have “nothing to do with” to “guilt or innocence”.  They do have something to do with other aspects, such as the jury perception of the defendant.  Her appearance, despite the constant remarks about her looks supplied by her parents, may have nothing to do with the murder of Caylee Anthony, yet may have a dramatic effect on the jury which decides if Ms. Anthony will be found guilty or innocent in a court of law.

“so, I mean, you know, what… what can I say about that honestly” – “Honestly” implies what he said before “about that” was not honest.  As Mr. Baez says, what could he have said about it which would have been honest?

We have learned Mr. Baez is concerned by the appearance of Casey Anthony and the attention the press gives to the changes in her appearance.