"I was saddened to learn of Terri's death. My heart goes out to her family and all those who worked so hard to save her life. Our legal system should have saved her, but instead, ordered that she be killed by thirst and starvation. Our judicial system today has lost the respect of the American people who expect their judges to be just, not hard-hearted. Their legalities overruled our humanity.
In an extraordinary session, Congress passed a law that should have given Terri a new trial, with de novo review of her case. This meant that her case would be given in-depth consideration by a federal court to ensure that her rights as a profoundly disabled person were not violated. Given that a thorough and unbiased review would take weeks for the court to hear the evidence, the directive from Congress was for the court to order that Terri's food and water would be restored, so that she would not die before her Constitutional rights to due process were exhausted. However, the judge ruled against her case with only a few hours of consideration and without hearing the necessary evidence. In doing so he sentenced Terri to a painful death and also sounded the death knell for the rule of law in America.
As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I will not allow a federal judge to ignore federal law without consequence. We must rein in the runaway judiciary and hold judges to their oath to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States. If a judge refuses to follow the law, he is no longer just and impartial and must be removed from office.
Not all prayers are answered as we wish. On behalf of the Fifth District and on behalf of Terri herself, I will work tirelessly to rebuild a culture of life and a recommitment
WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Steve King today issued the following statement regarding the passing of Terri Schiavo:
"I was saddened to learn of Terri's death. My heart goes out to her family and all those who worked so hard to save her life. Our legal system should have saved her, but instead, ordered that she be killed by thirst and starvation. Our judicial system today has lost the respect of the American people who expect their judges to be just, not hard-hearted. Their legalities overruled our humanity.
In an extraordinary session, Congress passed a law that should have given Terri a new trial, with de novo review of her case. This meant that her case would be given in-depth consideration by a federal court to ensure that her rights as a profoundly disabled person were not violated. Given that a thorough and unbiased review would take weeks for the court to hear the evidence, the directive from Congress was for the court to order that Terri's food and water would be restored, so that she would not die before her Constitutional rights to due process were exhausted. However, the judge ruled against her case with only a few hours of consideration and without hearing the necessary evidence. In doing so he sentenced Terri to a painful death and also sounded the death knell for the rule of law in America.
As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I will not allow a federal judge to ignore federal law without consequence. We must rein in the runaway judiciary and hold judges to their oath to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States. If a judge refuses to follow the law, he is no longer just and impartial and must be removed from office.
Not all prayers are answered as we wish. On behalf of the Fifth District and on behalf of Terri herself, I will work tirelessly to rebuild a culture of life and a recommitment
Now that is what we should be hearing -- and action following those words. If anything good can come of this terrible tragedy, this injustice that should never have stained American jurisprudence, then here it will be: punish these arrogant black-robed bastards to the fullest extent of the law.