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.
Alrighty.
"As you have done unto the least of these, so have you done unto Me."
-Jesus Christ
Nice! Your fanaticism says nothing about Judge Greer, nor the members of the local Bar who honor him. It says a lot about you, however!
I do not know whether Judge Greer is liberal or Conservative on social issues. But the fact that members of his local bar honor him in this manner, is certainly to his credit. It does not call for an angry response--much less one hurling such inappropriate invective.
Have you ever practiced Law? Have you ever been in Judge Greer's Court? Or are you simply hurling invective, to prove your enthusiasm for protesters, whose remarks you have read on the internet, or in the publications of agenda driven groups?
Again, I know little about Judge Greer--have no basis to characterize his career, one way or the other. But I understand the massive damage that fanatics such as you have done to the Conservative cause in America, as well as to the chances of putting a stop to the oceans of aborted babies, victimized by the sociopathic concept of a "Woman's Right To Choose." Why? Because you and those who rant as you rant, have dared to suggest that they espouse a culture of "Life." In that claim, they have undermined those of us trying to get the Federal Courts out of hearing Abortion cases--the one way to turn back to the Law before Roe vs. Wade.
For analysis of the Terry Schiavo hysteria, and the specific damage done to fundamental principles, the Conservative cause and the anti-abortion effort:
Terry Schiavo: An End To Rational Analysis?
William Flax
When you call names you get called names.
If you are inferring that you have family members who were victims of the Holocaust, you should understand better than anyone how dangerous this path is that the euthanasia-supporters are trying to take our country down.
Bump.
hmmmm I don't see that I posted that at all......
Polite and you wash your hands well, too. So epicurean.
I count you among them.
I never infer anything. Much as I try to never assume anything. I attempt to practice what I preach.
Let us all show that Dred Scott and the Schiavo rulings and those who so ruled all the honor that they are due!
Ah, the old 'if-you-people-would-just-shut-up-we-could-cut-a-deal' argument.
Only problem with that argument is that it never works that way in the real world.
If pro-lifers were silent, as you advocate, America would sink even faster into the leftwing, statist, pro-death abyss.
The other side ain't givin' you nothing, Ohioan, and the sooner you realize it, the better.
This is becoming a confusing thread inasmuch as we've had several posters confuse "Catholic" with "Evangelical".
You have to be incredibly ignorant to make that mistake.
Conigliaro is on the side of those who killed Terri although he doesn't come out and say it.
Among whom, pray tell?
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