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.
During 1998, an estranged wife who presented evidence of her husband’s physical threats to do her great physical harm, sought an injunction to keep him away from her. Greer denied her request for injunction, claiming he was “following the law.” Days later, the husband stabbed the wife to death...
Source More detail:
Back in 1998, Helene Ball McGee pleaded with Judge Greer to bring a protection order against her estranged husband, claiming that he had raped her, set her clothes on fire, and threatened to kill her. Two weeks after Greer concluded that she had not provided him with enough evidence to warrant such an order, Mr. McGee stabbed her to death in her home.
"Most Heartless Murder In Pinnelles Court, 2005."
Just like it is impossible to be friends with active addicts.
NO!!! He SHOULD NOT be tarred and feathered!
He should be drawn and quartered. BUT only until the point BEFORE death.
THEN, NO QUARTER GIVEN as his sorry ass is slapped into a bed. AND NO FEEDING TUBES NOR A DROP OF WATER.
Probably never occured to you that the people who were there were their because they treasure the sanctity of life just as our founders did, and weren't afraid to be thought of as fools to show it.
Were some goofballs? Sure. So freaking what?
Incidentally, few people would call Catholics "evangeliwhackos." Yet they were the dominant and most vocal presence in vigil at the Hospice (and in the marketplace of ideas as well). Doubt that? Go watch my video.
A fitting analogy. Some liberals are not really liberals, they're just mouthing off what they've heard all their lives. About the rabid ones, I agree with you.
I live here.(St. Pete.)
I saw the circus.
It was pathetic.
too bad that's all you saw. you should have seen through it.
Fortunately at this website we can agree to disagree. We won't be tossed by some liberal-in Conservative's-clothing control freak who doesn't allow opposing views. As Conservatives we basically agree more than we disagree, and that is why we have been winning elections. :)
Oh, the irony! A man who ordered the starvation of a woman, gets feted at a banquet.
The former Chief Justice of the Florida State Supreme Court got an award in 1999, at a banquet, for his pro-euthanasia and anti-death penalty predilections.
ACLU Honors [Gerald] Kogan With Poynter Award
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has presented its highest award, the Nelson Poynter Award, to Gerald Kogan, former chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court and a member of UM Law's Class of 1955.
The Elian debate, the 2000 election, the Schiavo case.
Some see a circus, I see activism.
I am sure some folks saw the Republican uprising against Gore stealing the election as a "circus" - and I recall Elian's FLA. family being ripped to shreds. While there are over-the-top types on both sides, there are just some things people come to feel passionately about. That's not a bad thing per se.
Really?
There are jackals on these threads constantly telling the rational to leave this site.
I can't wait to see you post a reprimand to one of those wackos.
Jawohl mein herr! Vee vere just following zee law! You cannot convict us, Honorable Tribunal, of crimes against humanity! Vee know notting of zis so-called morality! Zere are no moral abzolutes except for zee rule of mein fuhrer!
Here’s a clue: didn’t cut any ice at Nuremberg, won’t do so here.
Maybe she shoulda thought about the possibility - okay, the undeniable fact - that she couldn't afford a child before she had one.
Novel idea, that.
He allowed the sadistic, estranged husband, Michael Schiavo - who had a mistress and two illegitimate children and vested interest in Terri's death - to remain her guardian. And he sentenced Terri to a horrible, undignified death. I agree with Nancy Grace - no way do I want ever to be starved and dehydrated to death.
Judge Greer is another example how this country is sliding into a dictatorship of judges.
The wicked strut about on every side
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men
Psalm 12:8
Dan
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