Schiavo Judge To Be Honored

Tampa Tribune ^ | May 2, 2005 | Lisa A. Davis

[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.

[markedmannerf]

"he was a consistent judge who followed the law, colleagues say"

RIGHT!!

[Skooz]

Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:19

Superb and totally appropriate Scripture reference.

[InvisibleChurch]

hey, be easy now... he at least allowed the flowers in terry's room to have water

[Diogenesis]

A subpoena from the United States Congress means ..... NOTHING.

ANDRE LENOGE: "Where is Congress? Where are the Senators?
Nobody knows this Buchenwald Anniversary. Their chambers are empty. No one is there.
There has only been only one case like this in all of American history.
That was Roanoke Island [North Carolina] in 1587 when everyone disappeared. Every man, woman and child.
Hope is dimming for the missing pompous ever-preaching US Congress.
But .... there is word carved on the wall of the Senate Chamber, "Croaton".
No one knows what it means. A place favored for Congressional pork? A password? No one knows.
But I do know one thing. The empty ethically-challenged Congress will ALL need to be replaced in the next election."

Judgenfuhrer Greer: "It is April 8th. The US Congress is emasculated
and we have proven that the US Congress are pussies,
who write subpoenas unworthy of a bucket of warm Pinellas spit.
18 USC Section 1505 - I urinate on it. Title 2 of the US code - I deficate on it.
Florida Statute 765.309 [prevents mercy killing and assisted suicide] - void in my Court.
Florida Statute 744.3215 [requires that incapacitated people cannot be deprived of food and water]] - void in my Court.
Florida Statute 765.404 [which says that clear and convincing evidence of the ward's intent for medical treatment must be established] ] - void in my Scientology Court."

[PGalt]

You have the right to remain silent, Judge Greer. We the people...

[johnb838]

I Am The Law And The Law In This Case Is That Nobody Is To Try And Feed That Girl!

I The Jury: The Judge Greer Story

[muawiyah]

It's Pinelas county, and the last feature length story about the event noted that the mother had filed for child support against 2 men (since she has 3 children by 2 men). The reporter noted that the case wasn't proceeding very well.

Judge Greer IS family court in that county.

I'm sure this will come up again although I think you can find the article by doing a search for "5 year old"

[TommyDale]

Greer should be honored with seveal tons of manure dumped on his yard.

[Wallace T.]

Here is some information about the upstanding liars...err...lawyers who belong to this association:

President

Joan Nelson Hook, Esq.

EDUCATION:
B.S. University of Maryland
M.ED. American University
J.D. Widener University School of Law

MEMBERSHIP:

Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Florida State Guardianship Association

AREAS OF PRACTICE:

Probate, Guardianship, Special Needs Trust, Medicaid, Estate Planning, Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Elder Law

Joan Nelson Hook
Law Office of Joan Nelson Hook, P.A.
4918 Floramar Terrace
New Port Richey, Fl 34652
Telephone: (727) 842-1001
Fax: (727) 848-0602
E-mail: jnh@elderlawcenter.com

President-Elect

J. Stephen Doran, Esq.

EDUCATION:
B.A. Oglethorpe University, Atlanta , Georgia
J.D. Nova University, Fort Lauderdale, FL

MEMBERSHIPS:
AFTA, ATLA, ABA, Holiday Rotary

AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Personal Injury, PIP, Landlord/Tenant

J. Stephen Doran Doran & Beam
6113 Grand Boulevard
New Port Richey, Fl 34652
Tele:(727) 844-7914
Fax: (727) 817-0998
E-mail: jsdoran@doranbeam.com

People who send their children to the local public schools should let their school board trustees know how they feel about "LIE" (Law) Day beong conducted by this cult of death worshipers.

[veronica]

Here are some events: * 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.

Noblesse oblige. Leftist lawyers donating their Armani suits and Polo ties to the po' folk. The same crew that is after Rush in Florida...

[NRA2BFree]

For years, Greer presided over the politically and emotionally charged Schiavo case, which ended when the 41- year-old woman died was murdered March 31.

Every lawyer in America can award/reward him, and it won't make any difference on Judgment Day. He will stand before God, and give account for murdering her.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.



Thank GOD I'm not a lawyer, period.


.

[Information Friendly]

Is there a website moderator in the house?

[the invisib1e hand]

``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.''

give me a moment to pick my jaw up off the floor.

***

See? It's not just one rogue judge. It's a sick cult.

Behold Pinellas County, FL. It may not be the only place this cult exists, but it exists there, through and through.

***

Watch for massive lightning showers in New Port Richey.

[Dante3]

So now Greer has his own fan club. What's next? "My life belongs to Greer," "The Best Judge Money Can Buy," and "Sadists for Greer" buttons?

[mountaineer]

Greer should be honored with seveal tons of manure dumped on his yard.

You're so right. The appropriate response to a court ruling with which you disagree is to commit the crimes of trespassing and vandalism! Woo hoo. Tit for tat, and all that.

[the invisib1e hand]

May I share with you an email I received as part of an exchange with a criminal attorney I know who practices in Pinellas County?

About Schiavo. We are not a Theocracy. Judge Greer made the right and appropriate legal decision based on the facts before him. Our system, of laws is designed to withstand the lynch mob mentality displayed by many of the evangeliwhackos like Terry Randall. They are as endearing as Shihite Moslems. Why don’t they and their f[*]cking “culture of life” reflect upon: the Iraqi woman and children George W, Bush’s war has killed; Texas Governor George Bush executed 152 people; Jeb cared about Terry Schiavo but he sure did joy in killing Aileen Wuornos. Why do you get all huffy about a hyped charge of “starvation” when lethal injection (Jeb’s murderous MO) is simply a helluava a lot more overt. Have you ever noticed the correlation between arrested intellect and religious fervor? Thank God for the Jesuits and liberation theology!

I replied thusly:

Starving Terri Schiavo to death was not, under any conditions, and regardless of how finely one subdivides ones premises, "the right thing to do." If it was indeed "the right legal decision," that is an indictment that is deserved by an age that has subjected itself to laws but not to morals. St. Augustine said that "a law that is not just is no law, it is an act of violence." I say that the institution that enforces that act of violence is damned. There is such a thing as just violence (again, St. Augustine), and it was most certainly not the Terri Schiavo case.

What on earth has George Bush got to do with this? Nothing. He restrained himself as is fitting of the Executive. Contrast that to the federal/military action in seizing and deporting a little child despite the clearest wishes of his deceased mother. Have you forgotten that photograph of the man with the machine gun in Elian Gonzales' face? Is the irony lost on you?

I've discovered an obscene pattern in the Pinellas County legal system. Perhaps you are too close to see it.

I didn't bother to open his reply -- the one that is excerpted above was too inflamatory and irrational; couldn't imagine how the follow up would have been. I now consider a friend - I try to have liberal friends in the conviction that fellowship is stronger than political preferences - a friend lost.

[thoughtomator]

Or, you can give his address to the local left-wing activists and tell them it's Donald Rumsfeld's winter home.

[lowbridge]

Jeb cared about Terry Schiavo but he sure did joy in killing Aileen Wuornos.

Your attorney friend is an idiot.