Posted on 02/23/2005 4:32:09 PM PST by amdgmary
Clock in Schiavo case remains frozen at eleventh hour an ABC Action News report
02/23/05 - updated 6:04 p.m.
CLEARWATER - Once again, attorneys for Terri Schiavo's husband and family stood in court, arguing over her future. And once again, there were a few surprises, but no resolution.
At a Wednesday afternoon emergency hearing just hours before a temporary stay was to expire, circuit court Judge George Greer decided to extend the stay until Friday afternoon.
"I had intended to conclude this hearing 15 minutes ago and get an order prepared based upon what I had heard. I have heard a lot, and had a lot of information both argued and delivered to me documentarily, which makes an order out prior to the expiration of the stay at 5 p.m. today impossible," Greer said matter-of-factly.
That announcement followed nearly 90 minutes of testimony by George Felos, representing Terri's husband Michael Schiavo, and David Gibbs III, on behalf of Terri's parents and family.
Tuesday, an appeals court cleared the way for Michael Schiavo to remove his wife's life-sustaining feeding tube. The unconscious Terri has been dependant on that tube for nutrition and hydration since a 1990 stoke -- a condition under which Michael claims Terri would not want to live.
Her family disagrees with Michael's position, as well as doctors' findings that Terri has no hope of recovery. They have blocked Michael's attempts to end Terri's life in a high-profile legal battle that has attracted the support of the right-to-life community.
Nationally known anti-abortion activist Randall Terry announced Wednesday morning that he will be asking the governor to convene a special session of the Legislature on Friday to reform the guardianship laws involved in the case.
"If someone is cohabitating with another person, and they are the guardian of a disabled spouse, they need to automatically be disqualified from being a guardian as pertains to life-and-death decisions," Terry stated.
Gov. Jeb Bush intervened the last time Terri's tube was pulled after the Legislature passed a specially crafted law allowing him to order to the life support to be reconnected. But after the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a ruling that 'Terri's Law' was unconstitutional, the governor has taken a less confrontational role in advocating the family's position.
"I'm not going to grandstand. I'm not going to do something that will be completely inappropriate and disrespectful of the laws of the state of Florida," Bush said Wednesday. "Having said that, if there are good ideas that emerge that can be done through legislation, or if the executive has powers that we're not aware of and they bring it to our attention and they're thoroughly vetted, I will take action if it's appropriate."
In court Wednesday, the family's attorney requested more time to allow their three-pronged legal strategy to continue. Terri's parents are pushing to have Michael removed as Terri's legal guardian, appealing a decision that went against them regarding Terri's religious rights, and -- in the newest development -- requesting more medical tests be performed on Terri.
Outside court, the family was ecstatic that the judge agreed to grant an extension.
"Really, we're dodging bullets, literally. I mean, every day, they're trying to kill her," Terri's father, Bob Schindler, told Action News. "I'd like to see Terri show the world she's not in a persistent vegetative state, which she's not. And see her get some therapy, and take her under our wing and get her healed."
Still unclear was the role that the Department of Children and Families may play in the ongoing legal wrangling. The agency filed a motion expressing their intention to intervene in the case, but their attorney was denied a chance to speak in court Wednesday.
Citing confidentiality laws, a spokesperson for the agency declined to comment on the case when contacted by Action News.
Terri's family said they were pleasantly surprised by news of DCF's interest in the case. But George Felos, for his part, lamented what he considered to be the family's ongoing attempts to stall the case indefinitely, and said he hoped DCF's move was not politically motivated.
"The Florida Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that there is nothing the Florida Legislature or the governor can do to overturn the result of this case. We would hope that the legislators have read the opinion, understand what it means, and don't go down that road again," he told Action News.
Felos said his client is fully prepared to remove Terri's feeding tube as soon as he is legally cleared to do so. If and when that happens, it could take one to four weeks for Terri to die.
Judge Greer said he plans to render his decision on a longer stay by fax some time before the Friday deadline.
The unconscious Terry again. She sure is active for someone who's unconscious. Terri's VERY talented! She laughs at punchlines from her dad's jokes while unconcsious. She grins at her mom while unconscious (with her eyes wide open). She makes a "lemon face" when her dad's scratchy moustache touches her face. What a very talented UNCONSCIOUS lady she is.
America at the tipping point of opening a new front on the American Holocaust. Abortion being the first.
Abortion opened the door, you're right. Amazing we didn't get to this place sooner. Time to back track.
Ping
May Michael Schiavo rot in hell.
For whom will it strike midnight?
That evil michael character is hell bent on her dying.
There should be a law that stops a non-entity like him to not be able to intervene on behalf of a woman for all intent and purpose isn't even married to anymore.
He needs to get on with his LIFE and allow a beautiful person to get on with hers, PERIOD!
Is he paying for her care? If he isnt than he needs to be kept out of this entire matter it doesn't concern him, and if he thinks he and his family will be happy with blood money, this precious woman will haunt him the rest of his miserable life.
This link mentions Free Republic.
http://www.theempirejournal.com/02230532_schiavo_case_bolstered.htm
Prayers for Terri and the Schindler family.
Him not paying for her care is the link that
the State needs to get moving.
There is an interest of fraud against the State and Medicare and they need to get with it.
BTTT!
**Another notable internet site called FreeRepublic.com also has been at the forefront of efforts by others to get justice for Theresa Schindler-Schiavo since at least August of 2003 and has served as another meeting place for people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs to meet, exchange information and coordinate efforts to wake up not only the mainstream press but to also bring wider attention in the public domain to the her plight and the plight of other disabled and vulnerable people. A few notable internet news sites which have been especially good at getting factual information out in regards to Theresa’s plight are http://worldnetdaily.com and the up-and-coming http://www.theempirejournal.com from New York. In the blogging effort the URL for the main blog under which all the others 150+ blogs are joined is http://www.blogsforterri.com/ and there is of course http://www.terrisfight.org**
Did you see Watts petition!!!!!
He ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't know if this rumor is true or not, but I heard that he has a MILLION dollar insurance policy on her...
Is this true? Anyone?
The Florida Supreme Court overturned Terri's Law. They did NOT say other laws passed by the Florida Legislature would necessarily be overturned. STOP LYING and furthermore, DICTATING to the legislature!!!!!!
Yeah, I like that, and the fact that they called the lawyers' arguments "testimony". Shoddy reporting!
How true. I thought it would have happened much faster, myself.
I'm a lawyer, but the idea of life and death decisions being left to judges SCARES THE H-LL OUT OF ME!!!!!!!!
This is playing out almost exactly like an execution ... which it is.
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