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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.
That would do it.
Actually, we do. We can see the Culture of Death which brought about this travesty and the impending holocaust it enables. But why should we be surprised that those who wallow in the death of others would choose to honor a person who helps bring it about? After all, the Nazis handed out Iron Crosses to those in the SS who machine-gunned the most Jews, and the maniacs who invented and refined the techniques used for the mass exterminations practiced in the death camps. When a society comes to accept the extermination of "undesirables", then it is only a short step to honoring those who enable and carry out the butchery.
He should be tarred and feathered, not honored
exactly
...
Would surprise me if he didn't get one.
I don't use terms like that on my friends.
What is most disturbing is that this is the mindset of the legal profession there. When you go into a courtroom, this is how some of the think -- and most of the rest hold some other bizarre extreme beliefs. These convictions are rabid enough to cast doubt on the ability of these people to hold them separate from professional objectivity. I hold that that sentiments like these in the legal profession compell malpractice.
I could tell you some doozies I've heard from deputies ("you're under arrest, you don't have any rights," "I haven't begun to hurt you, yet"), assistant state's attorneys ("we're prosecuting you because we don't like your attitude"). I could tell of the time I was working in my office one evening with my then fiance and we were used as SWAT practice -- eight or nine deputies, three or more drawn revolvers, one large German Shepherd held about 6 inches from my face, and no apology. When the complaint was filed, the investigator relpied, "the officers said it never happened."
These are the stories of one man. Imagine what it would sound like if everyone talked?
I agree. Will this honor to Judge Greer be presented before of after his impeachment/arrest for murder?
Apparently these characters see the whole thing as akin to a Hollywood awards show. Don't you just love deep thinkers...
Yeah, especially when they get to play God.
This response is quite mild, compared to his B.S. decisions.
He deserves the same fate he sentenced Terri Schiavo to face.
Moral Absolutes Ping.
Comments already provided on the thread. Greer getting an award. Not JUST because of the Terri Schiavo murder. I guess he's performed other evil as well, then.
Let me know if you want on/off this pinglist.
What kind of a country is it when those who are supposed to be honorable and upholding justice are the lowest scum?
He is right. The religious extremists in the GOP have done the party no favors with their demagoguing lies and their ignorance of the law in end of life cases, in particular this case. The fact that not one of Greer's rulings were overturned on appeal show that the Judge did the job I and the other citizens hired him to do here in Pinellas County. He followed the law. If he ran again he would be elected to office by a even higher majority then he was in Nov. We elect Judges to rule on Fl. law...not on how they feel or what the bible says. And after the backlash to the GOP for overstepping their authority in this case, the RR extremists won't get any more crumbs from the political table for some time. Any capital they had, they blew on this case while making some Christians look like Jerry Springer busybodies and ignoramus's.
And after the backlash to the GOP for overstepping their authority in this case, the RR extremists won't get any more crumbs from the political table for some time. Any capital they had, they blew on this case while making some Christians look like Jerry Springer busybodies and ignoramus's.
Couldn't have said it better.
Greer only made one ruling. Congress wanted that one reviewed. All the other court involvement was just your usual rubberstamp, get it outta' here stuff.
Betcha' nothing at all.
Branding anyone who was on the side of the Schindlers as religious extremists (or "Christian Conservatives") just doesn't cut it. Not when the list includes Mark Steyn, Charles Krauthammer, and the editorial board of the Jerusalem Post.
We elect Judges to rule on Fl. law...
Nevertheless few of us had a problem with kicking Bush v. Gore up to the Supreme Court. In addition, as in the matter of death penalty cases for instance, legislators are given power over courts, as in the reprieve power given to Governors.
And after the backlash to the GOP for overstepping their authority in this case, the RR extremists won't get any more crumbs from the political table for some time. Any capital they had, they blew on this case while making some Christians look like Jerry Springer busybodies and ignoramus's.
I notice that the President and his team of advisors are standing very firm behind Tom DeLay. Some solid "crumbs" there... :)
Poor Terri was used as a sacrifice in their organizations' insane cult of legal murder. They'll probably wear red hooded robes at the ceremony.
I have a feeling freaky Felos has a closet full of those...
Do you have any idea why slobs like this and other liberals in general feel compelled to use such filthy language in trying to make their "point"? I've noticed it seems to be the coin of the realm among the left to use filthy language when they attempt to engage in "debate". Why do you think that is? Do they think they feel it somehow makes them look "grown up" or "cool" do use these kinds of words? Do they think it somehow impresses their audience that maybe people would like they are being "adults" by using "grown-up words"? I actually think it makes them look childish, but then again, I was raised not to use gutter language in what is supposed to be rational discussion among adults.
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