In brief: Casey Anthony to appeal convictions

Orlando, Fla. – Less than two weeks after she was acquitted of murder and other serious charges, Casey Anthony’s defense team filed notice Friday that she is appealing her conviction on four counts of lying to police.

A 12-member jury convicted Anthony on July 5 of the misdemeanor charges. Two days later, she was sentenced to four years in prison. Because of time she has already served in jail awaiting trial, Anthony is to be released from jail on Sunday.

There could be two reasons Anthony is appealing the judgment and sentence, said Bill Sheaffer, a longtime Orlando attorney.

An appeal gives Anthony another reason to assert her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions in a defamation suit filed against her by Kissimmee resident Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, Sheaffer said.

The other reason, Sheaffer said, has to do with the costs of the investigation.

“If she wins on that appeal, then the cost of the investigation that the state is computing and would tax would go away also,” he said.

Wedding reunites Kennedy family

Hyannis Port, Mass. – Patrick Kennedy married New Jersey schoolteacher Amy Petitgout on Friday in a ceremony that brought the Kennedy family back to its cherished seaside compound.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer officiated at the private ceremony, held outdoors under a sunny sky.

Kennedy, son of the late Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, is a former eight-term Democratic congressman from Rhode Island. Petitgout, of Brigantine, N.J., teaches middle school.

Convicted ex-governor selling home

Chicago – Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his wife are trying to sell their Chicago home that once served as Illinois’ de facto governor’s mansion, his attorneys revealed Friday, as the couple scrambles to raise money before he goes to prison for corruption.

At the court hearing, Blagojevich also stood before Judge James Zagel and said he fully understood that the government could end up seizing their home of more than a decade if he tried to flee or otherwise violates the conditions of his $450,000 bond.

Asked by the judge if he understood the consequences of a violation, which could also include going to straight to jail to await sentencing, the impeached governor responded, “Yes, your honor. I have no intention of violating the terms.”

Blagojevich and his wife, Patti Blagojevich, have begun trying to sell their spacious home on a leafy Chicago street, defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky told TV cameras later.

“So if anyone’s watching this and is interested in a nice house … contact the Blagojeviches,” he said.