[goldstategop]

The federal courts were supposed to look at it de novo. I don't see how keeping Terri alive a few more years would have harmed any one. People would have come away with a sense the courts protected every one's rights. Today people feel loathing and rage at the courts for disregarding long-settled precepts of elementary justice.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[sgent]

The federal courts DID look at it "de novo". They performed a de novo review of the law.

That being said, they did not perform a de novo trial. A new trial would be almost unheard of -- including death penalty cases. The only time I can think of a de novo trial is in the case of an appeal of a small claims court ruling.

The law said "de novo" but never specified which type.