an ABC Action News report 11/05/03
related story: Governor defends his intervention in Schiavo case (11/03/03)
CLEARWATER - A judge has given Terri Schiavo's parents the green light to move forward with their effort to remove Michael Schiavo as guardian of their daughter, but a heated exchange in court was more dramatic than any legal developments Wednesday.
The attorney for Terri's parents, the Schindlers, asked Judge George Greer to step down from the case, claiming he is too personally involved.
"I feel that if Terri called you from the hospice, you would try to talk her into giving up and dying. I feel that you are that committed to her death, judge," Pat Anderson stated.
The Schindlers' attorney has asked the judge to remove himself from the case three times in the last three years. Wednesday, he made it clear that he was getting fed up with the requests.
An acrimonious argument ensued when Anderson accused Judge Greer of speaking inappropriately about the case.
"Judge, you don't have to take the calls and you sure don't have to discuss the merits," Anderson continued.
"I think I even got an email from you, Ms. Anderson," Judge Greer shot back, slapping his hands on the bench.
In the end, Judge Greer gave Michael Schiavo 10 days to defend his position as Terri's legal guardian, though the guardianship issue will have no impact on Schiavo's fight to prove the new law that restarted Terri's feedings is unconstitutional.
The governor's attorneys moved to defend the new law late Wednesday, filing a request to dismiss the suit filed by Michael Schiavo over the law.
"Given the life and death nature of the issues before the court, Mr. Schiavo's attorneys should not be allowed to create a rush to judgment by circumventing standard legal practice. We are asking the court to ensure Mr. Schiavo's attorneys abide by the same rules of procedure and evidence required in all Florida courts," Gov. Jeb Bush said in a written statement.
The Schindlers, meanwhile, were not in court Wednesday; they were out of town to appear on a national talk show later this week.
---------------------------------------------------------
According to this report, Schiavo had 10 days to defend himself against the allegations. That's the first I heard of any time limit on MS. They sure make it sound like Greer expected to hear something from both sides in a reasonable amount of time. Now we also are hearing that Greer isn't setting any date for this. It wouldn't surprise me for ABC to have it wrong. I think very little of their journalistic credibility as it is. But surely something pointed them in the direction of 10 days. I wonder what's really going on.
If you can get a chance to listen & watch the video, it shows some of the discourse going on between Anderson & Greer. I hope that Greer isn't ruling the way he consistently does because he doesn't seem to care for Ms. Anderson. He tells her point blank to stick with true statements. (Georgie, if the truth hurts, then stop bucking it so much!).