Posted on 05/02/2005 5:06:09 AM PDT by Quaker
NEW PORT RICHEY - Pinellas- Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer, who was thrust into the national spotlight and scrutinized by pro-life advocates during the Terri Schiavo case, was a consistent judge who followed the law, colleagues say.
His professionalism and integrity was punctuated by the way he handled the Schiavo case, said Alan Scott Miller, a New Port Richey lawyer and member of the West Pasco Bar Association.
As part of Law Week, which kicks off today, the association will award Greer, 63, its Special Justice Award.
``He's getting this award for all of his contributions on the bench, not just the Schiavo case,'' Miller said. ``It's like a lifetime achievement award for an actor.''
Greer will receive the award during a banquet Thursday at the Heritage Springs Golf and Country Club, 11345 Robert Trent Jones Parkway.
For years, Greer presided over the politically and emotionally charged Schiavo case, which ended when the 41- year-old woman died March 31, 13 days after her feeding tube was removed a third time on a court order.
Some doctors said Schiavo was in a persistent vegetative state since suffering brain damage after her heart stopped in 1990.
Her husband, Michael, fought for years to have her feeding stopped, saying his wife didn't want to be kept alive by artificial means.
Her parents, hoping she would recover, fought him in court after court.
Eventually, Florida's governor and Legislature and then Congress took up the battle.
Supporters and detractors watched as Greer made rulings backing Terri Schiavo's purported wishes and received threats on his life.
``I don't think anyone could ever say his decisions were unlawful,'' said Joan Nelson Hook, president of the West Pasco Bar Association. ``They were very thoughtful. His decisions were meticulous.
``We admired his ability to sustain the pressure not to follow the law. ... I think that shows his character.''
Steve Doran, association president-elect, echoed Hook's thoughts on Greer's handling of the Schiavo case.
``His decisions in that unfortunate case withstood the test of every appellate court in the country,'' Doran said. ``Those who are criticizing him are not seeing the big picture.''
When the association voted this month on this year's recipient of the Special Justice Award, the result was almost unanimous for Greer.
``He's a man of integrity. He's followed the flow. He's done an excellent job on the bench,'' said Miller. ``That's why he's getting this award.''
In addition to Greer's award, the Law Week celebration offers events that allow the community to get a closer look at what the West Pasco Bar Association and the law profession are about, Hook said.
``It's an opportunity to interact with all levels of the community,'' she said.
``It's not just about battles; law is a way of life.''
Here are some events:
* Representatives of the association will be at Gulf View Square mall in Port Richey offering free legal advice from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
* All week, 22 lawyers will visit Pasco schools to discuss the law and this week's national theme, ``The American Jury: We the People in Action.''
* The 2nd District Court of Appeal will hold a special session at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road, in county commission chambers.
* Business suits, shoes and accessories will be collected at area law offices for Connections, a not-for-profit organization that helps people looking for jobs.
The following law offices are collecting men's and women's apparel:
The Law Offices of Attridge, Cohen & Lucas, 7136 Little Road, New Port Richey; The O'Conner Law Group, 9735 U.S. 19, Suite 2, Port Richey; Pejot Law, 11911 Pine Forest Drive, New Port Richey; and The Law Offices of Gay & Ehrhardt, 5318 Balsam St., New Port Richey.
Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.
I did not say I agreed with that poster. I am sure they are just ranting anyway.
I do disagree with the State of Florida's handling of this case, their end-of-life panel given lawmaking ability, and the fact that their own state senators would not help save Terri.
There is apparently something going on in Florida re the elderly, weak that is sinister IMHO. And, it could be going on all over the nation. We just need to wake up before we are killing all over the place.
I didn't see that all Terri supporters stated in the post any where. And there are certainly people who do fit that category. Or haven't you read all of the Terri threads on FR? Actually, I think calling for lynchings and drawing and quartering as posted on this thread is "radical." Or wouldn't you agree?
But you didn't discount it when you replied to the post. By not standing up to people who rant you are implying that it is acceptable to you. Perhaps if more of the Terri supporters would do this, people would not have this impression of a fringe group?
I guess his attorneys argued FL law...duh, my mistake.
They probably did not even know about it. Who checks the statues of Florida monthly to see what changes are input? Do the legislators even vote on the changes?
This is why I am questioning end-of-life panels. How should they have lawmaking ability without the approval of each law by the legislature. This is what I want to know.
We know that any interested in changing the laws to allow doing away with citizens determined unworthy of life, would gravitate to an end-of-life panel to exert their views. Are we to just allow them to decide when we die? How fair is that?
Also, there are many of the younger generation that see nothing wrong with removing "worthless eaters". Are we to sit back and allow them to decide to kill us older generations? Why? They are the ones moving into positions of power and I don't intend to sit quietly while they make laws to tell me when I die.
Just call me radical.
You are diverting the entire argument.
When you believe that God determines when we are born and die, it crosses over different instances of lawmaking abuse. If you believe that man is out of his realm when killing off the weak in society, it will show in any discussion of a manmade law that furthers the right to kill others.
This is not inconsistent. Your attempt to discount based on frivilous other issues is merely an attempt to discount Rush's views that this was wrong.
What about the views of Hannity, Jeb Bush, Pres. Bush, Tom Delay, Fred Barnes, Krauthammer and tons of others? All inconsistent?
After all, we passed a Constitutional Amendment protecting pregnant pigs...that is now a law "on the books". Why didn't didn't supporters of changing the law removing artificial hydration and nutrition from the list of artificial life sustaining methods currently set into place, gather the signatures necessary and put it to a State vote. Simple ballot question...That's the scary thing about the ballot box here in FL, it's become too easy to write laws.
What self-congratulatory sickos.
To honor this man is a sick joke from a bizarre nightmare. But God is not mocked. Eventually, and probably in the not too distant future, these people will stand before Him, and they'll have "a lot of 'splainin' to do.
- knightshadow.
Yes I agree it is radical. However, no matter how radical some are, it does not change the validity of the issue.
And casting all who oppose the murder of Terri as radicals does not prove your viewpoint either. It is a diversion to make the whole issue appear insignificant.
It is not insignificant and I do not care how ridiculous I may appear to those who wish to allow progressive changing of laws to permit state supported killing of unwanteds.
http://www.petitiononline.com/ijg520/petition.html
Impeach him!
Send him to jail!
Funny how so many lawyers can remain so glaringly ignorant of the law of the land in Florida:
Florida Constitution
Article One
SECTION 2. Basic rights.--All natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry, and to acquire, possess and protect property; except that the ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship may be regulated or prohibited by law. No person shall be deprived of any right because of race, religion, national origin, or physical disability.
``We admired his ability to sustain the pressure not to follow the law. ... I think that shows his character.''
Steve Doran, association president-elect, echoed Hook's thoughts on Greer's handling of the Schiavo case. ``His decisions in that unfortunate case withstood the test of every appellate court in the country,'' Doran said. ``Those who are criticizing him are not seeing the big picture.''
Such sanctimony! We see the big picture all right and it looks an awful lot like Nazi Germany.
ping
Randal Terry was offered the GOP voter list and the use of local volenteers to gather signatures but Terry and Gibbs choose to take a different tact...publicity.
Who checks the statues of Florida monthly to see what changes are input?
Anyone who wants to.
Do the legislators even vote on the changes?
No...only the Florida Supreme Court can overturn a citizen inspired Constitutional amendment referendum.
However, the State Legislature is looking to pass laws limiting Constitutional amendment by citizen ballot. Heads up on what is going on in Tallahassee right now Fl. Freepers.
Sorry, you are possibly right. But, when you are passionate about an issue, you ignore the side elements to get to the "meat" of the subject. I have countered and countered those trashing the Bushes, but it becomes time-consuming and tiresome. I spend far too much time on this as it is - but I am really upset with what I see happening from at least 10 different areas.
So many to counter - have to just center on the ones promoting the killing.
Don't leave out the legislature and the Gov kissing his tush!!
The rule of law is dead in this country. Anyone that cannot see that is blind.
I don't either.
But, the fact that they do, does not mean that the whole issue should be ignored.
If we did that, all anyone would have to do to make us ignore unsavory activities in our government would be to go on a thread and mention hanging, quartering, etc.
I look beyond the statements of rage here as just the powerless expression of anger. My anger is not that easily diverted.
When the case was appealed no one had authority to review Greer's finding of facts, only whether he ruled according to procedure. That is my understanding of it.
Read the petition and tell me he ruled according to law...go ahead. http://www.petitiononline.com/ijg520/petition.html
None of the federal judges did a de novo review as they were instructed by congress, not one of them.
Just because a judge says something is right doesn't mean it is. . . they could rule that I'm a hamburger but obviously I'm not.
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