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.
Greer should have a bench warrant instead of getting to sit on the bench.
Let me ask you this. Judge Greer ruled that based on the evidence he heard, Terri would not want to have a feeding tube. What law do you know of supports his decision that she was not to be fed by mouth Where did he get the authority to rule that no one should be permitted to feed her. She has been swallowing her saliva all these years, why couldn't she be "permitted" to receive nourishment from her mouth?
Isn't that starving someone to death, plain and simple?
The mods like to keep Clown Posse stuff off of here. But I have made them aware, today, that ElkNotMoose is in fact Central Scrutiniser -- and just what he's got to say about this forum.
And for that, I am greatly gratified. We will see how it unfolds in the richness of time.
You sure seem to be defensive about CP.
Help!!! I'm in a bad state and I can't get out... I also heard that Florida has the WORST medical providers in the country from someone who works in the system in the midwest.
the nazi card is very applicable. you better study history and I don't mean of euthanasia. i mean of nazi sympathizers.
Humph. I heard the same crapola from the Leftists who came to the hospice to glory in Terri's murder.
Your #518 is a case study in legal and moral hair-splitting.
I'm not the one who is being defensive here. But you do seem to have a grandiose concept of your own ability to influence much of anything. Are you now going to stalk the Internet looking to find other posters' comments to post here? Must be an all consuming career. LOL! We are off the subject of this thread though, and I have to get back to work, which has nothing to do with the Internet by the way. Thought I'd save you some trouble. LOL! I've already wasted my break.
Another thing that gratifies me, BTW, is that I dissected each of your objections until all you had to come back with, was what you did: Something not related to defending your claims.
I don't think I can influence jack. I can, however, relate and impart information to those who can. And I revel in my ability to do that.
Are you now going to stalk the Internet looking to find other posters' comments to post here?
If I see another hypocritical poster who slams Free Republic all over the place on one forum, then comes over here and play-acts like everything's hunky-dory, you freakin' betchya.
And personally: I hope it rubs you the wrong way. :o)
fv,
Thanks for the short note. Just at the endo fo my day here in France and practically falling asleep on the keyboard.
How are YOU doing, physically and emotionally?
But look at the context of the words of Thomas Jefferson:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.— …”
I believe he intended to imply that ‘men’ (individuals) are endowed with these rights, that is, they ‘own’ them, Life, Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness, not arbitrated by anyone else, but ours by virtue of our being free individuals. The unalienable right to life of a free man was not intended to be placed in the hands of another, or a court, or a government. I see nothing in the writing of Jefferson to the effect that the right of an individual to Life is subject to another’s interpretation of the “quality” of that person’s life. It is clear to me that Thomas Jefferson thought that free persons had the right to live, as well as the other things, but the right to Life was not abrogated by circumstances and thus transferred to another person or agency to dispense. IOW, a free people could live their lives without "further definition, quantification or qualification."
If indeed an individual's right to live becomes subject to that, we’re all in danger, because any number of people will have different interpretations of a “quality” life. This was the path trod by Alfred Hoche and others, and the result was the senseless slaughter of millions.
I'll have to read your reply tomorrow, can't stay awake any longer...
I can't believe that the trolls, etc. who wanted Terri bumped off are still fighting with us. Getting what they wanted isn't enough for people who endorse starvation and dehydration. They want more. What else could they possibly want now? Wasn't that diabolical or thrilling enough for them that Terri and her family were tortured and suffered horribly?
On the other hand, we want JUSTICE.
They can throw awards at GREER - they want to back him up because they are in the death business and you heard about the trusts they set up for wards wherein the beneficiaries never see any proceeds from estates. They want to keep a good thing going. The death biz is great for greedy lawyers who need another specialty. dying and killing are two different events. J. Greer killed.
The lawyers and judges in Pinellas and Pasco County get Probate and Guardianships confused all the time. They don't know from one minute to the next if they are going to kill the wards or protect them. They are getting very comfortable with killing them.
I'm more concerned about the liberal extremists in the GOP. THEY KILLED TERRI IN COLD BLOOD. Judge Greer is a REPUBLICAN, a LIBERAL EXTREMIST GOP.
I think there should be an awards ceremony held for the people who escaped Pinellas County with their parents and grandparents who were about to be victims of Greer. THE ESCAPEES SHOULD GET LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS.
Although my emotions re Greer are the same as yours (frustration, fury etc.) I can't really believe he's a rogue judge. I believe he followed the letter of the law, dotted every i, crossed every t, bless his cold, bureaucratic little heart.
That, to me, is what made the case so frightening: that the letter of the law (conveniently ignoring the likely intentions of our founders) WAS being followed. That this is what we've come to.
The only way out of this dark place is changing hearts and minds, and it won't be quick. I think I've made a little progress with some folks close to me who initially accepted the official point of view but now have doubts.
In this long conversation we must have with lawmakers and fellow citizens, I believe honest outrage can work in our favor, if it doesn't turn into a shouting match (and that's hard).
"cutting the rolls" sounds a lot like "culling the herd". This is George Felos' social revolution and so far, as long as there are judges like GREER WHO ARE WILLING ACCOMPLICES, the forced barbaric deaths will continue.
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