Judge in Life or Death Case Considered Conservative, Compassionate (Terri Schiavo Case)

AP | 10/25/03 | Vickie Chachere

[kattracks]

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (AP) - Pinellas Circuit Judge George Greer has been called a murderer and equated with the Roman governor who condemned Jesus to death. He has been vilified in Internet chat rooms and has received death threats by e-mail.

Greer is the judge who granted Terri Schiavo's husband permission to remove her feeding tube in one of the longest and most contentious right-to-life battles. His decision was second-guessed and essentially overridden by the Florida Legislature and Gov. Jeb Bush last week.

Following judicial code of conduct, Greer has been silent about the public debate over the Schiavo case and the criticism he has faced. He declined a request for an interview.

But those who know the 61-year-old probate judge say he is a prudent jurist who probably agonized over his decisions.

"He is such a good and decent man and to have this kind of rap being put on him right now is so unfair," said Mary Repper, a political strategist who has helped Greer's campaigns. "If ever this was to be put into the hands of someone who is going to be fair and do the right thing, George was the right person."

Through four years of hearings and legal wrangling, Greer considered Michael Schiavo's request to remove his severely brain-damaged wife's feeding tube against the wishes of her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler.

A heart attack in 1990 left Terri Schiavo, now 39, in a persistently vegetative state and court-appointed doctors believe there is no hope of recovery. Greer ruled Michael Schiavo showed "clear and convincing" evidence his wife did not want to be kept alive artificially and permitted him to end her nourishment.

The extraordinary reversal of his ruling by Bush and the Legislature will now become the central issue in a new legal fight over the separation of powers that will be waged to overturn what's now known as "Terri's Law."

While Greer has become a key figure in the international news event, few outside of Pinellas County know the man who friends describe as conservative, religious and particularly sensitive to protecting the disabled.

Greer is legally blind and cannot drive. While his condition doesn't hamper his abilities on the bench, colleagues and others said in interviews last week it gives him a perspective in dealing with the rights of the impaired few jurists have.

"He is so conscientious anyway, you put a case involving human life in front of him and it makes him even more careful," said Ed Armstrong, a Clearwater attorney who describes Greer as his mentor. "It's been an ordeal for him too."

Greer is a member of a conservative Baptist church which recently advocated keeping Terri Schiavo alive in a church newsletter. A moderate Republican, Greer served on the Pinellas County Commission for eight years before running unopposed for a circuit judgeship in 1992.

Repper and former Pinellas County Commissioner Charles Rainey said the fact that no one opposed the quiet, studious Greer speaks volumes for how well he is regarded in Pinellas County.

"He's doing what the law says to do. I am sure he struggles with himself, knowing George," Rainey said. "The man did everything he was asked to do as far as checking out the case, checking out the medical situation and he did it two or three times."

Greer is known for answering his own telephone in chambers and until recently being easily accessible to the press, characteristics that his friends say are holdovers from his days of being an elected official.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Greer graduated from Clearwater High School. He graduated from the University of Florida law school and was a successful zoning attorney in Clearwater when he was elected to the county commission in 1984. He been a judge since 1992 and is up for re-election next year.

Michael Schiavo first asked the probate court for permission to disconnect his wife's feeding tube in 1998, saying his wife had told him that she never wanted to be kept alive artificially. Her parents disagree. Two other judges handled the case before it was passed to Greer.

Greer turned down repeated requests from the Schindlers to order therapy for their daughter or to dismiss Michael Schiavo as her guardian. Just this week, Greer set a hearing in November, nearly a year after the Schindlers' last motion for a new guardian, to discuss that issue.

The Schindlers' attorneys attempted to have Greer removed from the case in recent weeks, saying he had improperly discussed the case with others. An appeals court decided Greer would stay.

The Schiavo case is not the only time Greer has been faced with the issue of removing a feeding tube from a vegetative patient. In 2000, the wife and grown children of St. Petersburg attorney Blair Clark faced off in Greer's courtroom after Clark collapsed from a heart attack.

Clark had a living will which said he did not want a feeding tube or respirator if he was determined to be in a permanent vegetative state. But his Chinese-born wife - who disputed her husband was vegetative and believed he could hear her - wanted to try acupuncture and medical techniques from her homeland.

Greer allowed an acupuncturist to administer a treatment session, and then granted Clark's children permission to withdraw their father's feeding tube. Clark's wife did not appeal the decision.

Clark died within days of the tube's removal.

"He was sympathetic and empathetic to the fact that we had somebody who in her culture believed in these alternative methods," said Doug Williamson, who represented the Clark children.

William Mayhew, who represented Clark's wife Ping, said he too believes Greer simply followed the law.

"Many judges would have figured out a way to dump (the Schiavo) case," said Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice, Greer's friend for more than 20 years. "But he stuck by it. He deserves a medal for enduring that alone."

[EternalVigilance]

Every once in a while that governmental branch, and the Executive as well, needs to reminded of the separation of powers doctrine has has preserved our Nation and protected us from the tyranny that dilution of the doctrine would create.

It is the courts, in a growing number of cases, that are becoming the tyrants.

It is they who need a reminder of the constitutional limits of their authority and power.

It is their arrogance that needs a good dousing in the realities of self-government.

It is the lawyers and judges that have lost sight of the founding principles that made this the greatest country on the face of the earth.

[EternalVigilance]

"The FR self-righteous, boorish bunch of arrogant dunderheads who have the answers to all issues without the travail of knowing the facts..."

..Middie said self-righteously, boorishly and arrogantly...

[sweetliberty]

"A heart attack in 1990 left Terri Schiavo, now 39, in a persistently vegetative state and court-appointed doctors believe there is no hope of recovery. Greer ruled Michael Schiavo showed "clear and convincing" evidence his wife did not want to be kept alive artificially and permitted him to end her nourishment."

They're still perpetuating the lies I see.

" Repper and former Pinellas County Commissioner Charles Rainey said the fact that no one opposed the quiet, studious Greer speaks volumes for how well he is regarded in Pinellas County."

No, the only thing it speaks of is the cluelessness of the people when it comes to voting on judges. How can they make informed decisions about how to vote when there is no information circulated about the judges?

"Greer turned down repeated requests from the Schindlers to order therapy for their daughter or to dismiss Michael Schiavo as her guardian"

Maybe it's just me, but doesn't that seem a little bit biased? Especially the part about the therapy. What harm could it have done? I mean, if Terri was really vegetative, it would have strengthened the HINO's case. But seemingly he can't afford to take that chance. Why? And why is Greer not considering THAT part of it? That, to me, is very troubling.

"Greer allowed an acupuncturist to administer a treatment session, and then granted Clark's children permission to withdraw their father's feeding tube."

Not a comparable case. And I find it interesting that in a case where there is a living will, that he is willing to at least allow attempts to be made first to try alternatives whereas in a case where there is no such living will, he denies such attempts.

He was sympathetic and empathetic to the fact that we had somebody who in her culture believed in these alternative methods,"

Too bad he doesn't believe that just maybe Terri's family knows her better than the HINO....if for no other reason than they have no questionable motives. They only desire to give their daughter a chance.

"But he stuck by it. He deserves a medal for enduring that alone."

.

[sweetliberty]

"the belief by many that she could be taught to swallow if rehabilitation had not been denied by her husband"

She already CAN swallow as evidenced by the fact that she doesn't drool, and according to the affadavits of nurses who cared for Terri early on, she was able to eat some soft foods and take some liquids until she was denied therapy.

"there is another side that is being ignored by the court and the press"

Very important point Dave, and where are all the "objective" observers asking, "why?"

[sweetliberty]

It seems an important question to ask, "why did Michael Schiavo FORBID Terri's own parents from videotaping her?" Does this not seem odd in and of itself?

[sweetliberty]

"Lets read the details of the actual testimony and see what was said."

Well some of the details of the testimony are here (post #214).

[sweetliberty]

"They know ahead of time that they are facing a $400K-$800K claim, as I understand it. They should be working on this case before she dies, not after."

Excellent point. I wonder if any of the fighters in this case are FReeping the insurance companies that may be involved to do a little investigating. Of course, the mistress is in insurance and apparently the HINO has at least some involvement in a (home-based?) insurance business. That might be a good place to start digging.

Terri's Army ping! If you want on or off this list, please let me know.

[sweetliberty]

"I read he gave Felos free reign to speak in court without interruptions, and that the attorney, Ferrara for the Schindlers was interrupted constantly and practically not allowed to speak."

I have heard the same thing.

[cyn]

"Greer turned down repeated requests from the Schindlers to order therapy for their daughter or to dismiss Michael Schiavo as her guardian."

GAG. Good night, can't stand any more. Thanks for all you are doing.

And you, especially, FV. I hope you can get some rest. That evil is very real, and you're bound to feel it. Stay strong, and know we're thinking of you & praying for you there. Love to the family.

[sweetliberty]

"With Terri Schiavo there is no living will and basically no evidence but the husband's unsupported word that she wanted to be starved to death"

And we musn't lose sight of the fact that Michael Schiavo didn't recollect this "fact" until 8 years after Terri's initial trauma and, coincidentally (?), at about the same time George Felos entered the picture.

[honeygrl]

This plus side to this article.. if all the liberals hear that a conservative judge is the one who sentence a disabled woman to death by starvation, maybe they won't be so quick to want to retract Terri's Law and they'll help save her not because it's the right thing to do, but because they hate conservatives and they think he is one.. (maybe just wishful thinking)

maybe someone should slip this article to the ACLU.. they might decide to switch sides just because Greer is supposedly conservative.

[sweetliberty]

Very good post.

[cyn]

"felos had free reign to speak"... Right, that was written in an article I read last week. there's so much info, so many articles, it's hard to keep it straight. But that was documented ... somewhere!

[cyn]

family = Terri's family. I don't know how they can stand this roller coaster. Hugs to them all w/prayers, and you too!

[litany_of_lies]

This plus side to this article.. if all the liberals hear that a conservative judge is the one who sentence a disabled woman to death by starvation, maybe they won't be so quick to want to retract Terri's Law....

Wishful thinking, I'm afraid.

They argument will be "even this conservative judge thinks Terri should be disconnected, showing how totally out-of-step the prolife radicals are with the rest of the country."

This issue is too important for the merchants of death and their willing accomplices in the ACLU to switch sides for any reason.

[PeyersPatches]

"A heart attack in 1990 left Terri Schiavo, now 39, in a persistently vegetative state "

Well that right there shows the bias of this paper and their campaign to revamp the reputation of that ghoul judge is hampered by his ignorant, biased, and just plain stupid rulings. He isn't fit to judge a pet show, in my opinion.

[sweetliberty]

"NOW I'M HEARING THE KANGAROO COURT IS LEGALLY BLIND!!?? CAN THIS CASE GET ANY MORE WEIRD??? "

Yeah, I find the blindness rather ironic in this case.

Can it get any weirder? Well, based on past experience when dealing with radical, left-wing nutjobs and an out of control, agenda driven judiciary, I would say that it not only CAN get weirder , but undoubtededly WILL. I learned a long time ago to never say "this will be the last straw."

I wanted to tell you Ethan, that I, for one, appreciate all your effort to research and post documentation pertinent to this case. Keep up the good work.

[PeyersPatches]

"And notice here that the wishes of the spouse in this case were trumped by the rest of the family even though we have been treated to a barrage of comments in the Shiavo case about the rights of husbands and wives to make these decisions for one another."

Excellent point. The spouse in that case was female and the family trumped her wishes. The spouse in this case is male and he trumps the family's wishes.

[sweetliberty]

"Is it just me or does this sound like a made-for-TV movie?"

Any bets on whether hubby dearest has already collected an advance on the rights?

[PeyersPatches]

"I'm not sure. I thought I read that Felos was even trying to get the ISPs hosting terrisfight to pull the videos , because they're "illegal" as MS didn't give permission for them to be taken????"


Hopefully some enterprising folks who care about Terri will bootleg them then and continue to pass them around. I do not believe I have ever seen evil work so hard to murder and cover it up like I am seeing now. It is frightening and revolting.