Posted on 04/24/2005 10:02:02 PM PDT by IleeneWright
BAR PRESIDENT DENOUNCES ATTACKS ON JUDICIARY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2005 CONTACT: Francine Walker, The Florida Bar TELEPHONE: 850/561-5666
STATEMENT OF KELLY OVERSTREET JOHNSON, PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR
TALLAHASSEE -- The tragic and high visibility case of Terri Schiavo has resulted in an unprecedented and unjustified attack upon our judiciary. Regardless of anyones personal or political feelings about the Schiavo case, this is a critical time for Americans to recognize the vital role of the judiciary in maintaining the rule of law and the importance of the separation of powers among the three branches of government.
It is in times like these that we should recognize that our judges, on a daily basis and not just in high profile cases, have the duty and responsibility to protect the rights and liberties afforded to all of us by law.
Judges have no control over which cases come before them and they will inevitably be involved in deciding difficult and unpopular cases. When presiding over a case, judges make rulings based solely on the Constitution and other laws, and not their own feelings or personal beliefs.
While we may disagree with decisions and actions of public officials including judges, it is entirely unacceptable and unfair for our judges to be criticized and even vilified when no judicial basis for such criticism exists. Unfortunately that is what is happening as emotions heighten in the Terri Schiavo case.
Florida newspapers are now reporting that Circuit Judge George Greer has not only been accused of murder and terrorism by congressional leaders in Washington, but has received death threats and was pressured to leave his church.
Societal dilemmas should never be confused with constitutional responsibilities. Floridas legal profession knows from polling that Floridians want nothing less than a fair and impartial judiciary.
Judge Greer is an ideal representative of the type of judge citizens want to hear their case. His rulings are based on laws, not emotions and not politics.
Indeed, his rulings have been repeatedly reviewed and scrutinized by many different courts on many different occasions. We must continue to have confidence in our legal system and expect our judges to act with the knowledge and integrity required of their position.
Judges are limited by duty to responding to such unfair criticism. But Floridas editorial boards, community leaders and the 75,000-member Florida Bar are not. The Florida Bar joins many of the states major newspapers and democratic advocates in denouncing the unwarranted attacks on the judges and courts which serve everyone in this great country.
About The Florida Bar: The Florida Bar is the statewide professional and regulatory organization for lawyers. With more than 76,000 members, the Bar serves as an intermediary for attorneys, the courts and the public. Headquartered in Tallahassee, the Bar is a unified state bar by rule of the Supreme Court of Florida.
Membership in the Florida Bar is a necessary component of Supreme Court regulation for all lawyers licensed to practice law in Florida. The foundation for the organization is built on a philosophy of equity and ethics.
Through its programs and services, the Bar supports this philosophy with four pillars that function as the mission of The Florida Bar: providing public service, protecting rights, promoting professionalism and pursuing justice.
You still a sheep?
Thanks. I'll post some stuff there.
http://hyscience.typepad.com/hyscience/2005/02/the_hapless_mis.html
Text:
The Hapless Misadventures of the Pinellas County Court System: An incestuous tale
If this doesn't leave you scratching your head in confusion and wondering how this is happening in the year 2005 when our legal system is supose to be squeaki clean, you have no hair!
Judges are impartial, right? Not Judge George Greer, the judge that has ordered Terri Schiavo executed by starvation and dehydration, twice.
Our good ole boy judge has worked side by side as county commissioner with Barbara Sheen Todd (county commissioner) for eight years. Barbara Sheen Todd is on the board of, you guessed it, the hospice where Terri Schiavo is kept prisoner by her husband, Michael Schiavo, who lives with another woman that he has two children with.
Also, Judge Greer's fellow judge, Judge John Lenderman is the brother of Martha Lenderman, also on the, you got it, the same hospice board.
Our fine judge accepted as the basis of his rulings, the questionable testimony of Michael Schiavo that Terri would wish to be killed, yet Michael never stated this until after he had received the 1.2 million dollar settlement during which time he portrayed himself as a loving husband that just wanted to bring his wife home and take care of her.
Now if a guy sues for malpractice, and gets $1.2 million because he SAYS he will take care of his wife for the rest of his life, and then THREE short months after receiving the $1.2, "remembers" that she would not like to live like that, isn't it naive to not smell a rat?
And there's VOLUMES more folks, but I gotta go.
C-ya later.
ExPat...some people can be negative most of the time. I've looked at some of the disruptive posters comments and they are usually anti or correcting someone else on whatever the subject happens to be. I've wondered if they just like to argue or maybe just full of hate.
They never bother me as I don't answer them. There's lots of threads on FR but some choose this thread to argue. If most looked at their own posts, they'd see the pattern they've set.
You wrote: Now if a guy sues for malpractice, and gets $1.2 million because he SAYS he will take care of his wife for the rest of his life, and then THREE short months after receiving the $1.2, "remembers" that she would not like to live like that, isn't it naive to not smell a rat?
My Reply: Well....yeaaaaaaaah, I can smell a rat way over here in France it stinks so bad.
Are you here SUN?
with legislators like these and judges like those, let's call the whole state off. Florida is ruined as far as I'm concerned. If you like this graphic by phildragoo, pls download it onto your hard drive because it's hosting is only temporary.
Please see the graphic above of the nine GOP Senators in the Fla Legislature who voted against Terri sealing her fate. We can't forget them either. THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR TERRI'S DEATH. Complain to the TOP about them and if in their district, vote them out.
Please explain your logic in making this statement. I can't wait to hear it.
I believe it!!
:)
Are any of these FL senators up for reelection in Nov., 2005?
I didn't have time to research when they are up for re-election in their districts. There's a thread about them which gives their district, phone numbers and email addys.
Thanks. I just hope that when they are up for reelection, Floridians here will write letters to editors and call talk shows to remind voters of what they did.
Welcome to Free Republic. Good post.
And since they are GOP, the newspapers will probably print the letters to the editor. The GOP has made a major mistake and it's going to hit them nationally, not just in Florida.
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