By STEPHEN NOHLGREN, Times Staff Writer
May 14, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG - In the last year, he has been maligned as a murderer, had his face plastered on posters wearing a Hitler mustache and still gets threats upon his life.
But among his colleagues, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer has become an icon. About 200 judges and lawyers gave him rousing applause and whistles of respect Friday, after he won the St. Petersburg Bar Association's judicial appreciation award for an unprecedented second year in a row.
Greer, 63, who oversaw the end-of-life drama of Terri Schiavo, made the legal community "proud to be lawyers," said attorney John Biesinger III, who presented the award. His "grace and professionalism was inspiring."
Also Friday, the Bar association presented their Liberty Bell award for community service to Andrew Barnes, who retired last year as chairman and chief executive officer of the St. Petersburg Times.
Over past years, the Bar's judicial award has been sprinkled around the judiciary, with nominating and selection committees often splitting votes nearly equally among candidates, Biesinger said. This year's vote, "wasn't even close."
A few other judges have been two-time winners, but never two years in a row.
It was Greer's ruling five years ago that eventually led to the removal of a feeding tube for Schiavo and her subsequent death in March at age 41. Greer found there was clear and convincing evidence that the brain-injured woman was in a persistent vegetative state and would not have wanted to be kept alive artificially.
Opposing him at various times were Schiavo's family of birth, right-to-life groups, the Florida Legislature, the U.S. Congress and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose push to keep her alive nearly resulted in a last-minute constitutional showdown between the judiciary and executive branches of government.
The Schiavo case and the national outcry it engendered "has been an incredible journey," Greer said. "The one constant has been the support, spoken and unspoken, of my associates. I appreciate this award more than you will ever know."
Barnes, 65, came to the Times as metro editor in 1973 after graduating from Harvard College and working as a reporter and editor at the Providence Journal and Washington Post. During his 21-year tenure, the Times won five Pulitzer Prizes, grew into Florida's largest daily paper and maintained its independent status by fighting off a corporate takeover battle from Texas investors.
It also supported numerous civic causes and awarded hundreds of scholarships to budding journalists.
Barnes "exemplifies the highest respect for individuals, integrity, ethics and compassion toward mankind in all walks of life," said Circuit Judge Thomas McGrady, presenting the award at a luncheon at the Mirror Lake Lyceum.
In a typically diffident manner, Barnes quickly thanked the Bar and said the award was really a recognition for the newspaper and its support of the law.
Last week, he received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Indiana University, which has strong ties to the Times dating to long-time family owners, the Poynters. Barnes still serves as chairman of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, the non-profit journalism school that holds Times stock.
He recently stepped down as chairman of the board that awards Pulitzer Prizes and said he looks forward to more free time to write.
Another award for Greer! &^%$#**_))(&^%$$^&$#$$
They gave someone else an award too. From the article you posted:
"Also Friday, the Bar association presented their Liberty Bell award for community service to Andrew Barnes, who retired last year as chairman and chief executive officer of the St. Petersburg Times."
An innocent disabled woman was dehydrated to death and these ghouls have nothing better to do, than give out award after award to the person who made it possible. Have they no sense of decency? Do they have no feelings for the family who lost a daughter and a sister? How cold hearted can they be?
BIG MONEY rules in Pinellas County.
From the St. Pete Times article, we have: John Biesinger the III, Andrew Barnes of the St. Pete (losing circulation) Times and Judge Thomas McGrady.
When Greer's the recipient of an arrest warrant, that's the only award he richly deserves. FV
John Biesinger III googled name shows: Wachovia and Skull & Crossbones (1970). Then my pc crashed. I'll take another peek tomorrow. Anyone who praises Greer has their own agenda in addition to being off their rocker.
People who break the law also believe they are above the law.