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Judge delays decision to push back Casey Anthony's civil trial date

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A judge decided to delay a decision whether to push back an upcoming civil trial against Casey Anthony on Friday.

The lawsuit centers on a woman named Zenaida Gonzalez, who is suing Anthony because she claimed a woman by the same name kidnapped her daughter, Caylee.

Anthony's attorney's are trying to delay the trial because they want more time to prepare.

Circuit Judge Lisa Munyon said she might not have room on her trial calendar until next summer or fall.

Munyon agreed with Gonzalez's lawyers that they have the right to question Anthony on the witness stand, when she can't use her Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer questions because of her ongoing appeal on her criminal convictions for lying to investigators.

Anthony's lawyers said even if she loses her appeal against those convictions early next year with the Fifth District Court of Appeal, she might try to take her appeal to a higher court.

As long as Anthony's appeal is ongoing, she has a right not to incriminate herself in the defamation suit because her testimony could be used against her in the criminal case.

Anthony was acquitted of killing her daughter after claiming that Caylee had drowned in the family swimming pool.