Judge Who Ruled Terri Schiavo Should Die Faces Election Challenge

Life News ^ | 04-11-04 | Steven Ertelt

[phenn]

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- One of the circuit court judges who has been at the center of the controversy surrounding Terri Schiavo is facing a challenge in his bid for re-election. Judge George Greer ruled last year that Terri's estranged husband Michael could remove her feeding tube and now voters will be able to decide if they approve of his decisions in the case.

Just hours before the filing deadline last Friday, Jan Govan, an attorney in Clearwater, Florida, threw his hat in the ring. The race will be Greer's first since being elected to the judgeship twelve years ago.

While Govan is careful to not directly say that he disagrees with Judge Greer's decisions in the years-long legal battle over Terri's life, the case prompted him to run.

"I will serve impartially and without any predisposition," Govan told LifeNews.com in an interview.

Govan told LifeNews.com that Greer's judicial decision-making progressed to a point where the state legislature had to get involved and authorize Governor Jeb Bush to ask doctors to re-insert Terri's feeding tube.

"Then I see my courts identify what the legislature and the Governor are doing ... as unconstitutional," Govan said. "So now I have a situation where I can't talk to the court, the legislature's expression has been denied by the court, and the judicial and legislative systems are at odds. All three branches are at a stalemate."

"This is the least healthy situation I have ever seen in regard to our government," Govan said.

While Terri's supporters are unable to express their opinion to Judge Greer other than protesting outside his chambers, Govan said his candidacy allows people to express their "passion" about Terri's plight.

"For quite awhile I would come to my office and see people lined up with signs and flags and different information," Govan explained. His office is located a block away from the courthouse where supporters of Terri have rallied on numerous occasions.

"It's improper for anyone to speak to a judge, so we don't have a direct voice," Govan explained. "I want the people who have a passion" to be able to have a choice in the election. Without his candidacy, "the opportunity to vote would have been eliminated."

Pat Anderson, the leading attorney for Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri's parents, tells LifeNews.com that she isn't surprised by Govan's candidacy.

"I don't know this challenger, and as far as I can tell he has no connection to the Schiavo case," Anderson told LifeNews.com. "However, I have heard from a number of people over the last few years about their unhappy experiences in Judge Greer's courtroom, so I guess it was inevitable that someone would conclude he was vulnerable in this election and decide to run against him."

Govan will have an uphill battle.

According to the Division of Elections at the Florida Department of State, Greer has already amassed more than $55,000 in campaign donations from top area attorneys. Govan has yet to begin fundraising for the August 13 election.

Greer told the St. Petersburg Times newspaper that he was surprised by Govan's filing but that he would not be "unprepared" to defend his seat on the bench.

Anderson said Govan's candidacy is good for area residents.

"It takes courage, I'll tell you that, to challenge a sitting judge," Anderson told LifeNews.com. "The power of incumbency is very powerful, indeed, when you're talking about judges. But I think it's a good thing for the voters to have a choice. No public official should take the job for granted."

[phenn]

the time is now

[phenn]

~ping~

[hattend]

Good, kick his ass to the street.

[Cicero]

Greer told the St. Petersburg Times newspaper that he was surprised by Govan's filing but that he would not be "unprepared" to defend his seat on the bench.

"Vote for me, I support killing babies and innocent hospital patients."

[phenn]

And I don't.....like......WOMEN!

http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/120498/Never_allow_domestic_.html

>>Earlier this year, a Dunedin woman named Helene Ball McGee asked for court protection against her husband but didn't qualify. She told a co-worker, prophetically: "Maybe he's going to have to kill me before I can get a restraining order." Two weeks later, McGee was stabbed to death.<<

That was yet another Greer Gem.

[Luircin]

Good, but I wish that actual justice would be done. If I had my way, I would sentence this judge and Michael Shavio (Sp.) to years in a conscious vegetable state while watching his sadistic wife carry on an affair with another man and trying to get his food and water removed so she can get his medical insurance.

[bikerman]

Why? The decision should be between the wife and husband not for the Governor to step in a make a decision because he feels its not right. She did not want to be kept alive. the decision was between husband and wife not the state of Florida.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Pinging to new thread, this one about opposition to Judge Greer!

If anyone would like to be on/off my Terri ping list, please let me know!

[phenn]

There is no proof of Terri's wishes - only hearsay testimony. That is not clear and convincing evidence and it is not adequate for the judge to rule as he has.

Furthermore, feeding tubes were not considered 'life support' until 1999. That was 15 years after Terri made her alleged wishes so there is no informed consent that she would not have accepted a feeding tube in the case of disability. Also, that is more than a year after Michael petitioned to remove it.

A final note on this: the husband has disqualified himself to serve as Terri's guardian for a number of violations of the guardianship statutes. He is not a durable power of attorney. He is a guardian. He does not have the right to refuse a vulnerable ward basic services and humane care. None.

[Robert Drobot]

phenn, This thread needs Jan Govan's campaign mailing address, and the campaign name given to handling his campaign finances.

[Alberta Pride]

GO Govan GO!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Agreed. I will mail in a contribution.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Agreed. I will mail in a contribution.

[phenn]

Here is what I got on Switchboard.com:

Govan Jan T PA
703 Court St
Clearwater, FL 33756-5507
Phone: (727) 441-4550

[Robert Drobot]

We need the name of his finance committee. Mailing checks to his office, in his name, isn't appropriate relative to reporting money received to be directed to his campaign.

[Robert Drobot]

We need the name of his finance committee. Mailing checks to his office, in his name, isn't appropriate relative to reporting money received to be directed to his campaign.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Dante3]

Among his many misdeeds, Michael Schiavo has a mistress named Jodi, two illegitimate children, has prevented his wife Terri's parents from visiting her, gains financially from her death, might have tried to murder her, and has abused her. No woman would want a husband, such as Michael, to decided whether or not she should die.

Terri should not be his property. In the Sunny von Bulow case the court ruled that not the husband (who had a conflict of interest), but her children, should be granted guardianship. Sunny is in far worse condition than Terri.

Terri never made a "living will." If she had felt strongly about it, she would have done it. Furthermore, Michael only recalled it years later when it was to his benefit.

[Robert Drobot]

Terri never made a "living will." If she had felt strongly about it, she would have done it. Furthermore, Michael only recalled it years later when it was to his benefit.

......and the entire judicial aparatus in Florida gave his BS their legal imprimatur.

[walford]

Judges like Greer actually threaten the concept of an independent judiciary -- an essential component of freedom. How?
-- His obvious corruption [having financial ties to a Hospice company]
-- his absurd blindness to evidence
-- his placing the fate of a helpless person in the hands of someone who has an obvious financial stake in her demise.

These and more are creating a growing public appetite for having judges more subject to political and popular pressure -- something the Founding Fathers worked hard to prevent. Hopefully Greer will be voted out before any more damage is done to the judicial system.

I would be interested in the opinion on this issue by any legal types out there.