Judge recuses himself from Anthony civil case

By Camille Mann Topics Daily Blotter Casey Anthony before her sentencing, Thursday, July 7, 2011

(Credit: AP Photo)

(CBS/WKMG) For unknown reasons, the judge in the civil lawsuit against Casey Anthony recused himself from the case on Friday.

Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony

Judge Jose Rodriguez made the announcement shortly after the 8 a.m. hearing began, reports?CBS affiliate WKMG.

Zenaida Gonzalez, who shares the same name as a fictitious babysitter whom Casey Anthony claimed kidnapped her daughter Caylee in 2008, is suing Anthony for defamation.

The move came after Anthony's attorney called for a sidebar, where attorneys from both sides talked with the judge for about 15 minutes.

Gonzalez's attorney,?John Morgan,?said he did not request the recusal,?WKMG reports.

Morgan?was expected to argue Friday that Anthony should be deposed before she is released from jail Sunday.?He filed the motion Wednesday requiring Anthony to attend a deposition either on July 19 or before Sunday's scheduled release from the Orange County Jail.

Morgan is concerned that Anthony will not show up for a scheduled deposition next Tuesday and he wants a judge to force her to appear, reports the station.

A timetable for a decision is not known.

Neither Gonzalez nor Anthony attended the hearing.

Last week Anthony, 25, was acquitted of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter in Caylee's death.

She was sentenced to a total of four years in jail on four counts of providing false information to law enforcement, as well as a fine of $4,000, plus court costs. However, due to credit for time served and good behavior, Anthony is scheduled to be released this Sunday.

If Anthony is compelled by a judge to give a deposition under oath, it could be the first time she speaks publicly after her acquittal.

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Anthony jurors speak, but some carry price tag

(CBS News)?

Some of the jurors who acquitted Casey Anthony of murdering her 2-year-old daughter have started discussing how emotionally draining the verdict was. Others are saying nothing at all. And still others are holding out for a big payday before offering up any jury room revelations.

According to published reports, a publicist for an unnamed juror contacted broadcast news networks demanding a five-figure payment in exchange for his story.

"Our client -- a married, college-educated, 33-year-old white male with two young children -- is willing to consider granting one or more media interviews so long as the opportunities are paid," North Carolina-based publicist Rick French wrote in a note to the networks, according to TMZ.

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The New York Times reports that one network executive said the proposed fee was $50,000.

French admitted to TMZ that paid interviews are "always a sticky subject" but insisted his client would not "entertain any offers that don't include compensation for a myriad of reasons."

The first named juror to break her silence was Jennifer Ford, who granted an interview to ABC News.

Complete trial coverage from Crimesider

The 32-year-old nursing student said the jury members were "sick to our stomach to get that verdict" but said there just wasn't enough evidence to convict Anthony.

"In our country ... we have to prove it. You can't just be like, 'Yeah that really looks bad. Smells bad. Looks bad.' I get that. It does:smells bad, looks bad. I get that. But it's someone else's life, and if I'm wrong, and I kill someone else? I can't live with that," she said, referring to the possible death sentence that could have been handed down.

While Ford didn't receive direct compensation from the network for the interview, the Times reported that she and four others were treated to a trip to Disney World. Disney owns ABC.

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Only one other juror who participated in the deliberations has been in contact with the media. The unnamed "Juror No. 2" told the St. Petersburg Times that he wished "we had more evidence to put her away. ... I truly do."

There's no indication he was paid for that interview.