Chicago slayings rattle [Florida] judges
March 8, 2005
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/07/State/Chicago_slayings_ratt.shtml
While no Tampa Bay area jurist ever has been murdered, some have been harassed, followed and publicly threatened.
Probably the most guarded Pinellas judge now is Greer, whose decisions on the Schiavo case have received international attention. Guards sometimes encourage him to eat lunch in his office.
Security officials don't like to talk specifically about how they protect judges, but in Pinellas County, access to criminal court judges' chambers was cut off years ago, even to members of the press.
Judges park in a special lot that is under video surveillance and a key card is needed to get in the entrance they use.
Pinellas County's budget for judicial and courthouse security pays for metal detectors, facial recognition technology and the salaries of 140 bailiffs. Pinellas deputies have, on occasion, also protected a judge's home round-the-clock.
When he does go out - as he did recently to celebrate a judicial assistant's birthday - the armed guards are with him.
--Times staff writer Bill Levesque and researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report, which includes information from other news organizations.
IMPORTANT ACTION ITEMS FOR TERRI
March 7, 2005 – As you may already know, Terri’s case has reached a critical point. Judge George W. Greer has ordered that her nutrition and hydration be removed on March 18, 2005. This will begin a long and painful death process for Terri if his order is carried out.
There are still some things that can spare Terri, and disabled people like her, from this type of forced death. Some of them require your help.
1. Florida’s House and Senate are considering a dehydration and starvation protection act that would require stronger evidence of informed consent prior to removing assisted food and fluids from an incapacitated patient. If you are a Floridian, a disability advocate or an elder care advocate, you can let Florida’s lawmakers know that you want them to consider such an act.
Contact Florida’s Lawmakers here.
www.flsnate.gov – Senate
www.myfloridahouse.com - House
2. The US Congress will consider a bill titled the Incapacitated Person’s Legal Protection Act on Tuesday, March 8, 2005. This bill, if signed into law, would entitle incapacitated persons to the federal review of their rights (known as habeas corpus) and would help ensure that they have been fairly represented. You can encourage your representative to give favorable consideration of this act. Habeas corpus protections are currently available to the worst convicted criminals; this new law would make it clear that disabled Americans are entitled to at least as much legal protection.
Contact your representative here.
http://www.house.gov/writerep/ - US House of Representatives
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ - US Congress
3. Seventeen doctors – neurologists, physicians and pathologists, have signed statements in Terri Schiavo’s guardianship proceedings to support new neurological testing protocols for her. This is important because of recent findings that may support the position that Terri is not in a persistent vegetative state and can be trained to communicate in spite of her limitations. Disability advocates across North America are calling for an immediate moratorium on deprivation deaths for disabled people like Terri until these new protocols can be enacted as an updated avenue of testing. We ask that you contact your state representatives and ask that they consider such a moratorium.
Contact your state house and senate.
http://www.house.gov/writerep/ - US House of Representatives
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ - US Congress
4. The Justice Coalition has petitioned the Governor of the State of Florida to invoke statutory protections for Terri Schiavo pending an investigation into abuse, neglect and exploitation against her.
Sign the petition here.
http://www.justicecoalition.org/petition2.htm
5. Terri’s family have filed a number of motions and petitions to the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Pinellas and Pasco Counties and continue to process several different appeals in the Florida courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Read the latest here.
http://www.terrisfight.org
6. National press and media continue to misreport and misrepresent Terri’s situation. Such reporting does a tremendous disservice to vulnerable people and elderly and disabled persons throughout the United States. You can help by contacting the editors of your local newspapers and letting the truth be known.
Download the talking point list here.
http://www.terrisfight.org/talk.pdf
7. Over 200 internet bloggers have joined forces to support Terri Schiavo by publishing articles, commentary and information about her situation and legal case. You can join their ranks, read their updates and pass the information along to your friends.
Check out the blog sites here.
http://www.blogsforterri.com
Finally, on behalf of the family and legal team working hard to protect Terri Schiavo and vulnerable citizens like her, we thank you for your time and compassion and we hope that you will contact us with links, suggestions and your personal stories. Your continued support is beyond value.
http://www.terrisfight.org/press/030705actionitems.html
Hitler had bodyguards too! Personally I think that it is an over reaction and gives the impression to the sheeple that Terri supporters are violent enough to want to kill Judge Greer. Propaganda!