Judge Greer deals with backlash from Schiavo case
Monday, March 28, 2005
The circuit court judge at the center of the Terri Schiavo controversy is taking heavy criticism from those who oppose his rulings in the case.
George Greer has repeatedly ruled in favor of Michael Schiavo, who asked to have his wife's feeding tube removed, angering those who wanted Schiavo's tube to remain in.
"Judge Greer should be removed," said a protester Monday outside Woodside Hospice in Pinellas Park, where Schiavo lives. "He has chosen not to obey the law."
Greer has left his church, Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, partly because of the Schiavo case. A publication written by Pastor William Rice in 2003 said, "The Schiavo case is a tortuous case, and although the case seems complex it is as simple as 'Thou shalt not kill.' "
Attorney Robert Dickenson, who has known Greer for 20 years, said he is disgusted by what people have said about Greer and says some statements about the judge are slanderous to Greer's reputation.
"To see someone vilified, called a Nazi, Hitler and a murderer is very upsetting to me and very demeaning to the legal profession," Dickenson said.
Greer reportedly has around-the-clock protection because of his safety being threatened. Ron Stewart, a public information officer for the Pinellas County Court System, would not confirm those reports because doing so might compromise Greer's safety.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2005/3/28/76127.html
Jesse Jackson seeks government intervention for Schiavo
March 29, 2005
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2005/3/29/76221.html
"They're starving her to death,'' Rev Jesse Jackson said. "They're dehydrating her to death, and that's inhumane. That tube should be reinstated. She is not brain dead; she is brain impaired. There is no rational reason for this to happen.''
Jackson said he spoke by phone today with five senators about creating emergency legislation to stop the starving and dehydration. He also left a message with Governor Bush and spoke with Michael Schiavo about praying with Terri, but was denied.
"There's something about this woman's will to live that's touching the hearts of people around the nation and around the world. Maybe this will raise the issue of how we handle long-term health care.
"We appeal to all involved, who have the power to make a decision, please help us some way to get food and water to Terri. Law must be tempered with mercy to have justice.
"It's a great moment when lions and lambs, black and white, liberals and conservatives can come together and find common ground. We should not stand back and watch her die when we have the means to save her.''
If the shoe fits.........
OTOH, to see someone starved and dehydrated to death at the order of a judge, who has gone around the law, broken laws, made law, is even MORE UPSETTING to me and worse than DEMEANING to TERRI and all THOSE WHOSE VERY LIVES ARE AT STAKE BECAUSE OF THEIR CRIME OF BEING DISABLED.
George Greer has done more to damage the public's confidence in the judiciary than any judge I have ever been familiar with-----in my opinion. Dickinson has been pandering over Greer for years, drooled over him at the May, 2004, Clearwater Bar Assoc.'s Law Day ceremonies where DCA Chief Judge Altenbernd was the prinicipal speaker and Greer got patted on the butt by his fellow guardianship lawyers by giving him an award. Greer is going down. No doubt about it and he's gonna drag a lot of people with him
It's just killing Dickenson, the way some people are treating his friend. They are not nice people like the Judge and Dickenson. It's a crying shame. Boo hoo.