Activist Calls for Pressure on Baptist Judge in Right-to-Die Case

Ethics Daily ^ | 02-17-05 | Bob Allen

[tutstar]

The founder of an anti-abortion group is rallying support for efforts to prevent removal of a feeding tube that would end a brain-damaged Florida woman’s life by urging public pressure on a Southern Baptist judge who has handled most of the legal matters in her case.

Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry described “several points of attack” to mobilize public opinion to keep Terri Schiavo alive, now that her parents have lost their main legal challenges to prevent her husband, Michael Schiavo, from removing the tube that has kept his wife alive artificially since 1990.

Terry said one “place where Terri’s life can be saved,” according to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, is for people to put pressure on the Judge George W. Greer of Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court.

“He’s a Southern Baptist,” Terry said. “It’s against Southern Baptist dogma to starve people.”

According to the Florida Baptist Witness, Greer is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla., a 5,000-member congregation aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Greer has been criticized for allowing Michael Schiavo to remain as his wife’s guardian and for a 2000 order to remove Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube. The tube was removed briefly in 2003 but reinserted after the Florida Legislature passed a law aimed at prolonging her life.

The U.S. Supreme Court in January declined to review a Florida Supreme Court ruling striking down “Terri’s Law,” clearing the way—barring further court orders--for her husband to allow his wife to die, which he says is what she would have wanted.

Her parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, continue to appeal to both courts and the public to block the judge’s order to remove the tube, which they say would cause their 41-year-old daughter to die from starvation and dehydration.

The Schindlers disagree with Terri’s diagnosis as being in a persistent vegetative state and have put video on a Web site they claim attests that she is conscious. They say Michael Schiavo has a conflict of interest because he now lives and has two children with another woman.

Terry Schiavo in 1990 suffered severe brain damage caused by lack of oxygen after her heart stopped beating due to a rare medical condition.

Her husband was appointed her legal guardian in June 1990, without objection from her parents. They had a falling out with Michael Schiavo over Terri’s course of therapy in 1993.

In 1998 Schiavo petitioned a court to remove his wife's feeding tube. The case went to trial early in 2000.

Judge Greer ordered removal of the tube, which doctors said would cause her death in seven to 14 days, prompting the first of a series of appeals by the Schindlers.

In an interview with the Florida Baptist Witness last August, Greer defended himself against attacks from pro-life advocates, including a critical editorial in the state Southern Baptist newspaper itself.

“My job is to follow the law: not to agree with the law, but to follow it,” Greer said. He told the paper his conscience is not bothered, even when he disagrees with the law.

“That’s how our system operates,” he said. “At my level, I just do what the law tells me to do. That’s what I’m supposed to do. That’s my oath.”

To do otherwise, Greer said, would be judicial activism and make him “one of those activist judges that the conservatives think are so bad.”

The Schiavo case prompted fierce debate between groups that oppose “euthanasia” and others who defend a “right to die.” Experts who specialize in end-of-life issues say it illustrates the importance of talking about living will and related issues before a tragedy happens.

[Pegita]

+ Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap ... Galatians 6:7.

Continual, fervent prayer for this mother's child and her family in the hours ahead ... Lord, have mercy upon them ... and us.

[TigersEye]

“My job is to follow the law: not to agree with the law, but to follow it,” Greer said. He told the paper his conscience is not bothered, even when he disagrees with the law. “That’s how our system operates,” he said. “At my level, I just do what the law tells me to do. That’s what I’m supposed to do. That’s my oath.” To do otherwise, Greer said, would be judicial activism and make him “one of those activist judges that the conservatives think are so bad.”

True.

Florida’s state constitution says "All natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty, to pursue happiness...No person shall be deprived of any right because of race, religion, national origin, or physical disability."

[Freepertwo]

Yep...this judge picks and chooses which laws he wants to follow. Why is no one with clout doing anything to challenge him on this?

[ItCanHappenToYou]

bump

[Ohioan from Florida]

“My job is to follow the law: not to agree with the law, but to follow it,” Greer said. He told the paper his conscience is not bothered, even when he disagrees with the law.

“That’s how our system operates,” he said. “At my level, I just do what the law tells me to do. That’s what I’m supposed to do. That’s my oath.”

To do otherwise, Greer said, would be judicial activism and make him “one of those activist judges that the conservatives think are so bad.”

Well, well, well! Georgie Boy is sure conflicted, although he can't admit as much! IF he were truly following the LAW, he would have recused himself from this case OR he would have brought up the guardianship pleading filed in Nov. 2002 by now. THAT would be following the law!

He may not think of himself as a judical activist, but he has done just that when he has STRETCHED the legal definition of PVS to mean something else. He has STRETCHED what is clear and convincing evidence. I think he qualifies as a juducial activist!

[Freepertwo]

Folks, if you have friends you can send here to Free Republic to read these threads on Terri...send them. Not only will they get good information, they'll get phone numbers and email addresses. Even the trolls serve a purpose...the more they promote their ideology of death, the more the truth stands out like a beacon. So please, start sending folks this way. And of course, to terrisfight.org

[DJ MacWoW]

Terry Schiavo in 1990 suffered severe brain damage caused by lack of oxygen after her heart stopped beating due to a rare medical condition.

This kind of idiotic statement makes me crazy.

Is there any kind of phone or email campaign to help Terri?

[Freepertwo]

Is there a phone or email campaign?? :-D Please go back and type Terri Schiavo into a FR search engine.

[Chocolate Rose]

Here's just a few to start with--


alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov

argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov

aronberg.dave.web@flsenate.gov

atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov

baker.carey.web@flsenate.gov

bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov

bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov

campbell.walter.web@flsenate.gov

carlton.lisa.web@flsenate.gov

clary.charlie.web@flsenate.gov

constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov

crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov

dawson.mandy.web@flsenate.gov

portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov

dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov

fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov

garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov

geller.steven.web@flsenate.gov

haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov

hill.anthony.web@flsenate.gov

jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov

king.james.web@flsenate.gov

klein.ron.web@flsenate.gov

lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov

lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov

lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov

margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov

miller.lesley.web@flsenate.gov

peaden.durell.web@flsenate.gov

posey.bill.web@flsenate.gov

pruitt.ken.web@flsenate.gov

rich.nan.web.@flsenate.gov

saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov

sebesta.jim.web@flsenate.gov

siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov

smith.rod.web@flsenate.gov

villalobos.alex.web@flsenate.gov

wilson.frederica.web@flsenate.gov

*Daniel Webster
Email N/A
-------
Speaker Allan Bense
Capitol Office: Phone: (850) 488-1450
District Office: Phone: (850) 914-6300
speaker@myfloridahouse.gov

Frank Peterman
Capitol Office: Phone: (850) 488-0925
District Office: Phone: (727) 552-1370

Florida Department of Law Enforcement 850-410-7000

Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities 850-488-4257

Federal Bureau of Investigation
202-324-3000
tampa@fbi.gov, jacksonville@fbi.gov

U.S. Department of Justice
AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
202-514-2000 Main Switchboard
202-353-1555 Office of US AG

U.S. DOJ Disability Civil Rights
Section Chief John L Wodatch
Phone: (202) 307-2227
Fax:(202) 307-1198
John.L.Wodatch@usdoj.gov

Section Deputy Chief Renee M Wohlenhaus
Phone: (202) 307-0663
Renee.Wohlenhaus@usdoj.gov

Philip Breen
Special Legal Counsel
U.S. Department of Justice
Phone: (202) 616-7526
Fax:(202) 307-1198
Philip.L.Breen@usdoj.gov

Liz Savage
U.S. Department of Justice
Phone:(202) 514-7173
Fax:(202) 514-0293
E-mail: liz.savage@usdoj.gov

Florida Attorney General's Office
850-414-3300 Charlie Crist, AG

Mr. George Le'Mieux
Deputy Attorney General
850-245-0140

Bernie McCabe, State Attorney Pinellas and Pasco Counties
727-464-6221
bmccabe@co.pinellas.fl.us

Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities 800-342-0823
850-488-9071
info@advocacycenter.org

Pinellas County GOP
727-539-6009

Gov. Jeb Bush 850-488-4441
jeb.bush@myflorida.com

State of Florida Office of Civil Rights 954-712-4601

Florida Senate 800-342-1827

Florida House of Representatives 850-488-6026

Florida Department of Law Enforcement 850-410-7000

Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities 850-488-4257

Federal Bureau of Investigation
202-324-3000

U.S. Department of Justice
AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
202-514-2000 Main Switchboard
202-353-1555 Office of US AG

[pc93]

TPC Fax:

Send a fax from your web browser:

http://www.tpc.int/sendfax.html

See a few fax numbers below:

Format of number to input is:
(ex. Pres. U.S. [POTUS]) -> 1 202 456 2461
(ex. Gonzalez) -> 1 202 514 1009
Vice Pres. Dick Cheney 1 202 456 2710

Carl Whitehead (Agent in Charge) - Tampa FBI Field Office -> 1 813 272 8290

[Chocolate Rose]

Is this still correct?

Judge Greer
George W. Greer
Rm. 484, 315 Court Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-3933
Circuit Probate 3

Court E-mail:
courts@jud6.org

[pc93]

Not sure.

[tutstar]

Yes folks are busy making contacts with Florida officials...http://www.societyfortruthandjustice.com/

follow the links re Terri and the Gov. # is there as well as a couple of others.....

Could yall direct DJ MacWow to other info re HB701? I just popped in for a moment and can't stay at the pc right now!

[Chocolate Rose]

HB 0701



http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/loadDoc.aspx?FileName=_h0701__.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0701&Session=2005

HB 0523
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/loadDoc.aspx?FileName=_h0523__.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0523&Session=2005

[DJ MacWoW]

I've emailed Govenor Bush. I'm unsure who to email. Where will it do the most good to express outrage?

[Ciexyz]

Prayers offered up for Terri's survival.

[Chocolate Rose]

I have to be gone until this afternoon myself.

I leave this with all--
The court-ordered stay on the removal of the tube is set to expire tomorrow,Tuesday.

FReepers, keep up the phone calls, e-mails and faxes. FReepers do terrific work!!!

Prayers for Terri and her family
http://www.terrisfight.org/

[Theodore R.]

George W. Greer then is just another BINO -- Baptist In Name Only on top of his many other disgraces.

[DJ MacWoW]

I've bookmarked that site and will call tomorrow when government offices are open. Thank you.

[Anita1]

Re: www.floridabaptistwitness.com/2999.article


In the article is says:

"Govan, in the same editorial, is said to be “motivated by a personal vendetta and in response to the way Greer ruled in the Terri Schiavo case.”

In an Aug. 8 staff editorial in the Tampa Tribune, the staff “enthusicatically” recommended Greer for another six-year term and notes he has served a distinguished career since 1966, serving eight years as a Pinellas County commissioner before his uncontested move to the bench.

The Tribune writes that Govan, who has a “diverse” law practice, is “seeing to capitalize on the case of Terri Schiavo.” Govan is a graduate of University of Florida, University of South Florida and Stetson University College of Law.

The Tribune also questioned Govan’s motivation and said that in the Schiavo case “Greer followed the law and ruled fairly given the evidence presented him.”

A recent story comparing the campaign chests amassed by both candidates show Greer is clearly a favorite of lawyers-at least at a rate of 341-1.

The Tampa Bay Times online reported August 13 that Greer has raised a record $144,000 in his re-election bid.

By contrast, fundraising reports show Govan has collected only $15,486 of which $10,000 is his own money."


"Greer is clearly a favorite of lawyers-at least at a rate of 341-1" - Hmmmmm!

It is a sad commentary on our nation when a judge like Greer is supported by people with great sums of money while a good judge like Govan struggles to raise funds.



Please read: Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court: Schiavo rulings do no harm to Greer

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/09/01/Tampabay/Pinellas_Pasco_Circui.shtml


It says in part - "While both candidates were ethically barred from discussing the Schiavo case, Greer's supporters said Govan made it clear in his advertising that he was trying to use the case to his political advantage.

Govan sent a mailer to everybody in the county with the "Choose Life" license plate that began, "Dear Friend of Life ... Do you believe that God created life? Do you believe that each of us has the right to enjoy and defend life?"

Thank God for people like Govan - who are willing to stand up for righteousness!