Criminal cases After being granted his license, he focused primarily on criminal defense cases, including the case of Elvira García, an undocumented Mexican immigrant accused of kidnapping a child that she had adopted as her own. García's charges were dropped, as it turned out to be more of a civil custody matter. He also tried the first-degree murder case of Nilton Díaz, heavily covered by the media in Orlando and Puerto Rico because the victim was the two-year-old granddaughter of World Boxing Champion
Wilfredo Vazquez. Baez's client was acquitted of first and second degree murder but convicted of manslaughter and child abuse.
Casey Anthony case Baez came to significant national attention when he took on the
case of Casey Anthony.
Time magazine dubbed it "the Social Media Trial of the Century". Anthony was acquitted of the murder of her daughter, Caylee, after a trial that lasted six weeks. In a press conference on the day of the verdict, Baez said, "While we're happy for Casey, there are no winners in this case. Caylee has passed on far, far too soon, and what my driving force has been for the last three years has been always to make sure that there has been justice for Caylee and Casey because Casey did not murder Caylee. It's that simple." He added, "And today our system of justice has not dishonored her memory by a false conviction." Baez was featured on every major news network and show across the country. Baez authored a book with
Peter Golenbock about the Anthony Case,
Presumed Guilty, which was published on July 3, 2012, and became a
New York Times Best Seller.
Fox News Channel commentator
Geraldo Rivera referred to Baez as "Juanie Cochran", in reference to
Johnnie Cochran, who had developed a similar reputation as a defense attorney for spearheading the acquittal of
O. J. Simpson during
his trial for the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.
Missing in Aruba After representing Anthony, Baez was brought on to assist attorney Chris Lejuez in representing millionaire businessman Gary Giordano in
Aruba. Giordano was detained in KIA Prison for 116 days in connection with the disappearance of Robyn Gardner. Aruba's High Court released Gary Giordano on November 28, 2011. No charges were ever filed against Gary Giordano. Baez and Lejuez successfully defended an appeal filed by Aruba's Chief Prosecutor, Taco Stein. Baez defended Giordano on the American
reality prime time
court show You the Jury, which was canceled after two episodes. Baez also defended Gerod Roth in the show.
Rebecca Sedwick In October 2013, Baez was hired to defend the 12‑year-old suspect arrested in connection with the
death of 12‑year-old Rebecca Ann Sedwick, whose mother had claimed was bullied to the point where she committed suicide by jumping to her death from a silo in a cement factory. The case made national news when
Polk County, Florida, Sheriff
Grady Judd made the first arrest in the country for
cyberbullying, and gave interviews on all major media shows including the
Today Show and
Good Morning America. Baez criticized Sheriff Judd for releasing the juveniles' names and photographs, setting off a battle between the sheriff and defense attorney. Sheriff Judd told the media that Baez, "a flashy lawyer from out of town, should go work out a plea deal." In the end, all charges against his client were dropped. After winning the case, Baez told Sheriff Judd that "He should get a lawyer and a darn good one because he's gonna need it", insinuating his client might sue the Sheriff. No known further legal action occurred.
Aaron Hernandez Baez was working with former NFL player
Aaron Hernandez to appeal his conviction for the
murder of Odin Lloyd up until Hernández's apparent suicide on April 19, 2017. Baez stated publicly he does not believe Hernandez committed suicide and is "determined to find the truth surrounding his untimely death" as "Aaron was looking forward to an opportunity for a second chance to prove his innocence." Baez defended Aaron Hernandez on charges related to a 2012 Boston double homicide of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in a drive-by shooting in Boston's South End on July 16, 2012. On April 14, 2017, a jury acquitted Hernandez of the murders. Hernandez was already serving a life term without parole for the Odin Lloyd killing. Five days after the not-guilty verdict, Hernandez committed suicide by hanging himself in his prison cell.
Lawsuit against NFL and New England Patriots On September 21, 2017, Baez announced Aaron Hernandez had been diagnosed with
chronic traumatic encephalopathy by Dr. Ann McKee of
Boston University, and that he had filed a federal lawsuit, on behalf of Hernandez's daughter, against the
National Football League and the
New England Patriots, seeking unspecified damages for loss of parental support. The suit alleges the league and team were aware of the dangers of repeated head injuries and refused to disclose these to Hernandez.
Acquittal of Mark Nordlicht, hedge fund executive In the summer of 2019, Baez, along with
Ronald Sullivan and Duncan Levin represented
Mark Nordlicht, the CIO of the billion-dollar hedge fund, Platinum Partners. Nordlicht was charged with securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, and multiple counts of conspiracy. The government alleged that Nordlicht, along with others, engaged in one of the largest "
Ponzi-esque" schemes in history. Baez tried the case over a two-month period in an Eastern District of New York courtroom, winning his client acquittals on all counts. An appeals court later reversed the district court judge's acquittal and reinstated Nordlicht's conviction.
William Husel William Scott Husel was charged with 14 counts of first degree murder. He allegedly prescribed excessive amounts of
fentanyl to his patients. Baez claimed that Husel was simply trying to help his patients deal with the pain, and said that Husel did not intend to kill any of his victims. According to Baez, Husel was trying to help some patients in their last hours of life. Husel was found not guilty.
Representation of Harvey Weinstein In early 2019, Baez was sought out by
Harvey Weinstein, former co-founder of Miramax, to represent him in the New York criminal case where
Weinstein was accused of rape and other sexual offenses. Baez, with his team of Ronald Sullivan and Duncan Levin served on Weinstein's defense team until late 2019, later criticizing decisions made by other members of the defense. Weinstein was eventually convicted of several charges.
Representation of Charlie Javice Baez represented Charlie Javice, founder of
Frank, in the New York criminal case where she was accused of defrauding
JPMorgan in the $175 million sale of the startup. Baez subsequently lost the case, as the jury in New York City returned a guilty verdict after a five-week trial. ==See also==