Judge recuses himself from Anthony probation case

ORLANDO, Fla. – A Florida judge who ordered Casey Anthony to serve a year of probation for check fraud now that she is out jail is stepping down from the case.

Judge Stan Strickland in Orlando recused himself from the case on Wednesday. His order did not say why.

Earlier this week, Strickland ordered Anthony back to Orlando to meet a probation officer to start a year of probation.

Anthony has vanished from public view since her acquittal last month on charges of murdering her 2-year-old daughter.

Strickland sentenced Anthony to probation in January 2010 for using checks stolen from a friend. Corrections officials interpreted the sentence so that she served the probation while in jail awaiting her murder trial

Strickland says he meant the probation period to start upon her release.