Posted on 03/30/2005 10:09:34 AM PST by churchillbuff
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The state House Judiciary Committee chairman said Tuesday he will consider starting an impeachment investigation of the state judge in the Terri Schiavo case, but said he thought it unlikely that the judge would be impeached. Christian conservatives and advocates of the disabled have launched an Internet campaign and collected more than 28,000 electronic signatures in favor of impeaching Pinellas County Circuit Judge George Greer, who has presided for seven years over the legal battle between Schiavo's husband, Michael Schiavo, and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler. Greer allowed Michael Schiavo to have her nutrition and hydration tube removed March 18. He contends she would have wanted its removal, but the parents want to keep her alive. ''People have asked me to seek to impeach him,'' said House Judiciary Committee Chairman David Simmons, R-Longwood, which he said was not unusual given his position. Article 3, Section 17 of the Florida Constitution says circuit judges ''shall be liable to impeachment for misdemeanor in office.'' Such a move would require a two-thirds vote by the state House to impeach, and then a two-thirds vote by the state Senate to convict, with the chief justice of the state Supreme Court presiding over the trial before the Senate. ''I think that's a pretty heavy burden to sustain,'' Simmons
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said Tuesday. Simmons said he has received ''numerous e-mails'' asking for an investigation. ''We will look at it and analyze it,'' said Simmons, who is a lawyer. But Simmons added, ''I'm not committing to do anything other than review what any constituent tells me, as a representative and as chairman of the Judiciary [Committee], to look at.'' Stories about the severely brain-damaged woman, appeals for donations to defray legal expenses, and ''Action Alerts'' urging visitors to contact state and federal lawmakers dominate Christian conservative and anti-abortion Web sites. ''She will be a martyr when she dies,'' Simmons predicted. Although it appears that time has run out for the legislature to act in time to halt Schiavo's impending death, Simmons said he intends to work with the Senate to prevent future situations.
If there's some fire in the smoke about corruption of guardianship - and the hospice - then that may be the way for justice for Greer: corruption.
Read this article, it is cause for an investigation imo. (Then Melton's 10 tricks)
Exclusive
Schiavogate---The Big Cover-up
http://www.theempirejournal.com/0313055_schiavogate_the_big_cove.htm
"Dirty Tricks of Guardianships ‚ The Need for Change."
by Robert W. Melton, Chief Auditor, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pinellas County
Pinellas County Internal Auditor Robert W. Melton recently lectured at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg on: "Dirty Tricks of Guardianships ‚ The Need for Change."
Here are just 10 of the "dirty tricks," as outlined by Pinellas County Internal Auditor Robert W. Melton:
1) Guardian creation of a trust: Remove all oversight by the court as a provision of the trust agreement; guardian becomes trustee; provide that the trustee can do whatever they want at their sole discretion.
2) Sell real estate at lowball price: Use "lowball" valuations as a benchmark; don't list property with Realtors; sell to a land trust, where nobody knows the beneficiary; watch property resold a few months later for a huge increase.
3) Maximize your (or your crony's) profit from investments: Hire money manager for "financial expertise" and let the manager select an investment broker; invest in volatile stocks and trade frequently to generate commissions; if you run up a large gain, don't selectively liquidate over time to pay the taxes but hold a "fire sale" to raise funds all in one day.
4) Undervalue beginning inventory: Have a used-furniture "friend" value a house full of antiques for $3,000; "forget" to put some of the more expensive items on the inventory; "forget" to include a $40,000 certificate of deposit.
5) Pay yourself first: Make payment of guardian and attorney fees the highest priority; disregard mortgage payments and let ward's home go into foreclosure; squirrel away money in the attorney's escrow account for possible future expenses.
6) Maintain guardianship at all costs: Keep family members uninformed; if family members try to become guardian, accuse them of stealing; use the ward's assets for legal fights to retain guardianship.
7) Improper financial reporting: Bury asset-management and brokerage fees as aggregate capital losses "due to market fluctuations"; don't classify disbursements separately; file incomplete or incorrect safe-deposit box inventories.
8) Forced incompetency: Visit assisted-living facilities and establish employee contacts; obtain voluntary limited financial guardianship; if there is money in the estate, do paperwork to force an evaluation of competency; get control over everything and the ward loses all rights.
9) Pay your attorney well: Let attorney bill full rate to shop for a computer and set it up for the ward; let attorneys bill their full rate, even if work is done by a paralegal or assistant.
10) Forget to file federal tax returns: Ensure there is a refund; wait till the ward dies; get check without oversight.
http://www.justiceforfloridaseniors.org/dirty-guardian-tricks.html
Isn't it unbelievable that we haven't heard any news that they're being investigated?
It blows my mind!
Looks dumber than a rock.
The cops in Pinellas aren't going to charge MS either, he is the jail nurse!
Yeah. I know. That's one of the reasons I pointed out the cops acquiescence to him.
Considering all the other things I have learned about this guy and the Sheriff's office, that's not an accident.
Something seriously wrong down there in Rottenville (formerly known as Pinellas Park). Seriously wrong.
By attempting to paint those with whom you disagree as "absolutist pro-lifers," you come dangerously close to falling into the same name-calling crowd as those who called you a "bloodless zombie leftist."
Greer's judicial violations in the Judge's coming impeachment trial are very substantial and will show that Greer established a pattern and practice of biasing every probate outcome in favor of the euthanasia-driven agenda of George Felos and the Felo-influenced demands of Michael Schiavo.
Impeachment proceedings--as well as any number of the inevitable wrongful death lawsuits--will bring all of that actual evidence that you seem to place so much faith in out into the glare of public and media scrutiny.
Not merely one, but a number of de novo reviews of Judge Greer's rulings will occur--in and outside of the arena of pure litigation.
The United States Congress, for example, are even now planning to hold various hearings on the Schiavo case, if only to cover the butts of the Congress critters who all got together to pass a piece of legislation that was scornfully ripped to pieces in their collective faces by Judge Greer and the U.S. Federal Court System.
Please review carefully the Articles of Impeachment presented in an earlier post [#104] in this very thread. Each of Judge Greer's thirty-eight (38) direct violations of Florida's s Statutes and Judicial Canons are set forth with exemplary clarity.
Here are just two examples of Greer's violations and the specific evidence upon which they are based. Check out the other thirty-six:
21. Judge Greer has denied Terri the right under 744.3215 (h) to receive prudent financial management for her property and to be informed how her property is being managed. Michael Schiavo stated on national television that he melted Terri’s wedding rings down and had them made into jewelry for himself.
23. Judge Greer has denied Terri the right under 744.3215 (k) to have access to the courts. Judge Greer has relied upon the testimony of others related to Michael Schiavo as to Terri’s condition yet ignored the testimony of her blood relatives which was contradictory to information provided by Michael and his family.
Wouldn't a campaign donation from M. Schiavo's attorney to Judge Greer at least make his handling of this case a big conflict of interest? Sure seems to me that it should! The Florida legislators seem to be all talk and no action, find that to be very sad, however, I believe most of state and federal legislators to be all talk and no action, once elected they do what they want, it's a power thing!
Governor Bush FAX 850-921-9077
jeb@myflorida.com
Governor's Legislative Affairs Office 1-850-488-5000
Governor Bush phone #850-488-4441
ping to self read post 118
If these charges can be proven to be true, the judge ought to be in jail...
In a just world, Jeb Bush would also be impeached for dereliction of his most basic sworn duty.
But as someone so aptly pointed out, that is a political, not a legal, question.
I wouldn't care to get into a cab with a 'legally' blind taxi driver, even if he had a navigator...
A judge who can't read or see expressions on people's faces, or watch video that are evidence, has no business being a judge...How can you judge if you can't judge???
I'll bet you'll never get on a plane with a blind pilot...Fortunately, it's a requirement that pilots can not be blind and still be able to fly a plane...
He's made what he thinks is a popular statement and then proceeds to enumerate all the reasons why it won't be successful. Nice try, but I'm not fooled.
YES, He's legally blind. He is NOT even permitted to drive a car. He sure must have read those court briefs carefully huh? What a farce, a deadly farce.
+The biggest frustration for me through all of this fiasco has been the TOTAL FAILURE of Governor Bush. I mean he's failed Terri and the citizens of Florida in every way. He was one that I didn't expect such shoddy behaviour from. Yet he could not have done any worse had he tried. My visceral disgust at his weakness and callousness in allowing an innocent woman to be executed with less protection than a CRIMINAL is not excusable.
I know, this is what really threw me for a loop. NOT ONE of these othe Courts looked at the case anew, not even considering what had gone on before. They should have been looking at the NEW evidence and the heretofore BARRED evidence. They didn't do they jobs AT ALL. And where are the Feds? They should be screaming and calling everything to a HALT!! These Courts were to do a de novo review of this case. And yet the Feds turn a blind eye. This is beyond bizarre and evil. It makes every single branch of the government look in disarray and pathetic!!
There will be more of this to come.
Yes, that's what I was referring to, thanks for posting it.
I hope someone is interested in investigating and prosecuting...
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