With regard to whether this should have been heard by a jury:
I don't know what the law is in Florida, but where I come from, matters like this are started by a petition of some sort. Petitions and motions are generally heard by a judge -- they are non-jury. Also, again, where I come from, in most other civil cases, you have the OPTION to request a trial by jury -- you don't have to have one.
As to "revenge" against the judge or judges involved -- Revenge is a bad thing. I agree with those who say it would be better to try to have the law changed. As far as I can tell, most of the judges involved in this whole mess ruled according to the law in place.
However, I fear that this whole circus will cause a major split between the factions of government -- so much so, that any attempts to change the law at the legislative and/or executive level will be struck down by the judiciary. Sadly, the losers in this upcoming pissing match will be us -- the citizenry.
The legal fight over Terri began with the Schindlers filing a petition in Probate court. It was a civil, non-jury matter.