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.
You see no judicial tyranny in this case because all the reviewing courts agreed? Every crappy, criminal and historically sick court decision in our country has had the nod of the appellate courts sometimes right up to the SCOTUS.
What possible analysis have you done that found "clear and convincing" evidence that Terri wanted to die on the basis of hearsay, delivered 5 year after the original facts, by an adulturous, polygomous husband who had an obvious conflict of interest?
I shudder to think there are people like you in our midst. It displays such a profound lack of reason to arrive at your conclusion.
I agree with the state's rights question. I can understand that. (a nice Freeper kindly explained why some of the anti-Terri crowd were against the federal interference). A pity that this did not come out in earlier discussions rather than all the hateful comments.
But - even with that aside - I am totally against what Michael and Felos were up to. I just did not buy their case and felt both were up to some other agendas and Terri was the sacrificial lamb.
Funny, I would say the same about you, but I'm much too polite.
If you had to trade places with someone on Judgement Day, would you rather be one of the people who fought tooth and nail to prevent the murder of Terri, or one of the people who fought tooth and nail to murder her?
It's not about you.
Look up "fringe" in the dictionary.
No, I just get sick of certain FReepers who seem to have an affinity for calling pro-lifers and conservatives 'fringers'.
Why such people want to hang out on a conservative website is beyond me.
I thought the post I was responding to was perfectly timed and brilliant in pointing out the true thoughts and feelings of FReeperdom about what was done to Terri.
The elite in my statements are those on the end-of-life panel making decisions on life and death for all of us and those in power that wish to rid the society of the useless eaters - whoever they are in power.
No, I did not believe that Pres. Bush should send in marshalls. I would have thought that a law merely asking for a new look at the case only in this specific interest would have been sufficient to open all up to the light of day. But, no, Greer decided he preferred to handle this in the mire and dark recesses of his office and none deserved to see what actually was going on. So, he gets the wrath you see and then complains he is unfairly treated.
I believe you already know that I'd gladly be one of the people who fought to prevent her murder, as I did in a couple of ways, though admittedly not as "tooth and nail" as you did.
"If you did these things to the least of them, you also did them to me." Jesus, in the book of Matthew. And for those who fought to save her? "Well done good and faithful servant." Jesus, again in the book of Matthew.
As I said earlier, those who would "honor" judge Greer for his decree are going to have a lot of 'splainin' to do.
- knightshadow.
ignorantia legis neminem excusat
I agree with you that these two guys were no saints. My main issue was and still remains the states rights issue, although after reading the report given to the governor in 2003, along with Randall Terry, the parents are not necessarily saints either in my book.
Yes, I already knew which you would choose. I just had to ask because I wanted to open the door for your thoughts on that. Maybe some of the confused people gained some guidance from your answer. Amazingly enough, there are actually people trying to convince us it's better to support murder than try to stop it.
I think we agree on more than you realize. It is just disheartening to me to see something turned into hysterical rantings by some radicals. I don't think that serves any good purpose and could erode the efforts of the sincere and reasonable. I believe that you are also dismayed by this.
Well - parents will be parents. Awfully hard to see a daughter killed when they believed she was in there. A little much to ask of parents that they not fight for their daughter. I am amazed that the father did not find Michael in a dark alley.
Also, who says parents must be perfect in order to protect their family? Does that mean no criminal has a right to fight for their families because they are criminals? Try and convince families you are right on that.
1 Samuel 31
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons.
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
The Amalekites were the enemy...There seems to be some descrepancy in the story line.
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