Seems to me those rules are a bit of a problem. Too bad Terri's lawyers couldn't have focused earlier on somehow forcing the case to get routed to someone other than Judge Greer. Seems to me that the system as it exists is ripe for corruption.
The rules are to prevent judge-shopping and were in place long before Terri's case and will continue long after Terri's case.
In another case the Schindlers filed, for a TRO after the 1st order to remove the feeding tube, they did file the case before a different judge. Although the TRO was granted by this judge, the appeals court reversed. http://www.jud10.org/2ndDCA/july01/2D00-1269.htm
I do know that in my state, at least in a criminal case, a defendant (but not the state) gets one chance to change a judge (no reason has to be given the first time), but there are strict time limits on the request for change of judge. I'll have to check the rules for the time limit for change of judge for civil cases. If the Schindlers, as an interested party, didn't file for a change of judge within the time limits, the courts wouldn't allow it.