If the Clinton-appointed federal judge were interested in protecting life, he would have dimissed the complaint without prejudice and told schindler's attorneys to re-file to re-assert the facts they presented as a 14th amendment right-to-life claim as intended by the act, if they had such a claim. Hinding behind draconian application of procedural rules doesn't justify starving a human being to death.
From a recent movie, in which a bureacrat is spouting procedure:
"Where are the kids?"
"What?"
"You know, the kids... Cowards often hide behind rules and children."
While a judge has the ability to act sua sponte, it is not his job to act as effective counsel for a party, particularly one like the Schindlers who are quite able to retain competent counsel.