Judge is considering ruling from late hearing

AP ^ | 3.25.05

[ambrose]

Judge James Whittemore asked the parents' lawyer to focus on the legal issues. As attorney David Gibbs attempted to liken Schiavo's death to a murder, the judge interrupted. Whittemore called the comparison "emotional rhetoric" and said it wouldn't influence the court.

You'd think with all of this free publicity, there'd be no shortage of high caliber attorneys who'd be willing to handle this on a pro bono basis. David Boies comes to mind...

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

Do you think we will hear anything tonight?

[Honestfreedom]

Sorry but anyone who goes to court loses. Judges will not help Terri.

[ambrose]

He'll rule before daybreak. My guess, at least.

[ClancyJ]

Would have been nice if they had had a great lawyer. Afraid the one they have was totally incapable of handling this. Can you imagine preparing 6 or 7 court presentations in one week?

[piasa]

No, the judge is stalling in the hopes that kidney failure is the 'final solution.'

[ambrose]

Freeper Torie surmises that Terri's parents have been the victims of some horrific lawyering. Let's face it, there are quite a few judges on the 11th Cir. who may be sympathetic to their cause... but their lawyers haven't given them anything on which to hang their hats on.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"He'll rule before daybreak. My guess, at least."

I hope so, but I pray he takes his time too (to really look at the facts). This is such a messed up situation.

I'm so tired, but I can't even imagin how tired Terri's family must be.

[Torie]

I already posted about that. It is a painful spectacle in so many ways. And the list just keeps getting longer.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

All the "high-calibre" attorneys are pro-death.
That's what makes them look "high-calibre".
They always win. The rest are rubes.

[MHGinTN]

This judge will rule on the case when Terri is too far gone to save her, and not a minute before. There isn't a more graphic example of a tyrannical judiciary than this judge ignoring the immediate dying of Terri (he obviously doesn't think it matters if she dies while he's knitting) and the Greer purposeful action to kill the Congressionally subpoenaed witness! But how many somnabulent Americans will get it?

[thoughtomator]

I second that notion. There are so many obvious things that the Schindlers' lawyers have done nothing with.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

See post #11.

[Howlin]

He didn't "get" it, did he?

This, plus I'm watching Randall "Charles Nelson Reilly" Terry pontificating on Fox; he's like a dog with a bone; the new face of conservatism, lecturing Jeb Bush and the United States Congress.

[Torie]

The charge that Whittemore has been stalling at any point in this case is untrue and unfair. He has been acutely aware of the time frame, and that is one charge he wishes to avoid. He is working through the night as we speak. One might not like his decisions, and it is complex and difficult, but the guy is not a hack. Whittemore is not Greer.

[ambrose]

David Boies has been siding with the parents, at least from the reports I am reading here. David Boies is a damned good lawyer. He represented Gore in Florida 2000. He was a good advocate - not his fault that he had bad facts to work with.

[BJungNan]

How long does she have to live?

[unfortunately a bluestater]

"Judge James Whittemore asked the parents' lawyer to focus on the legal issues."

What a slap in the face.

As we have been repeatedly reminded of late, we are a "nation of laws". But, does "focusing on legal issues" preclude a judge from using common sense in analyzing the facts of a case or decency in considering the big issues---like life, death and family?

[BJungNan]

How much is all this costing Michael Schaivo? Not that I care but curious if he is furious.