Casey Anthony Jurors: Deciding to Remain 'Silent'
Although it’s been three months since a Pinellas County jury found Casey Anthony not guilty in the highly publicized case concerning the death of her child, the 12 members of the jury have refused to talk about the case.
The jurors’ names are: Joan G. Meier, Raymond L. Screen, Jennifer Ford, Linda F. Bills, Harriet B. White, Brian P. Berling, Kimberly A. Kimball, Kathleen A. Nighland, James P. Kearns, Ronald H. Robertson, David W. Angelo, and Mary L. Fuhr.
The names were released Tuesday under the direction of Judge Belvin Perry, who presided over the trial.
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It’s no surprise that the jurors don’t want to share their opinion. In highly publicized and controversial cases like these, it isn’t uncommon for jurors to become the scorn of public opinion.
In a case like that of Casey Anthony, the public’s general feelings of discontent could have contributed to the jurors’ opposition to speaking to media outlets.
Although a few jurors came out to tell their stories after the trial, they did so anonymously. Now, three months later, many of the 12 are unavailable for comment, or simply moved to a different location.
Anthony’s main lawyer, Jose Baez, was a major factor in the acquittal of his client.
According to WTSP television in Florida, Baez was quoted as saying, “They made their decision... I think [the publicity is] absurd. They didn’t ask to be jurors. They were picked.”
Several theories have been contemplated regarding the jurors’ lack of volunteered information. Popular opinions guess that they have already agreed to do a group interview, or perhaps they simply don’t want to stir up more anger with their commentary.
Whatever the reason, the group’s united stand against media interviews reveals that they’ve clearly been in communication since the trial.
A defense lawyer in Tampa, John Fitzgibbons, told the Tampa Tribune: “All the jurors knew this day would be coming… They have had plenty of time to contemplate what they are going to do… This was not a hasty decision.”
