Posted on 05/26/2005 5:50:28 PM PDT by CHARLITE
A federal judge who declined to review the lawsuit Terri Schaivo's parents filed to prevent her painful 13 day starvation death may have had a conflict of interest.
Federal District Court Judge James Whittemore of Tampa was charged by Congress to take up the case and issue a temporary restraining order preventing Terri's death. He refused. However, it appears Judge Whittemore, who became the subject of condemnation from Congressional leaders after his decision, possible should have recused himself from the case.
Whittemore served in the 13th Circuit Court of Hillsborough County, Florida from 1990 to 1999. According to a report in the Empire Journal newspaper, one of the attorneys who formerly represented Terri's estranged husband Michael had recommended him for that position.
Michael's former attorney, Constance McCaughey, had been a member of the 13th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission which suggested Whittemore for the circuit court position.
According to the Florida Bar Association, McCaughey served on the judicial nominating commission from 1988 to 1992. She was named commission chairman in 1991.
Not only did McCaughey formerly represent Michael, she is the ex-wife of Michael's current attorney, euthanasia advocate George Felos.
The Empire Journal reports that McCaughey joined Felos' law firm in 1997 and helped Michael win a decision allowing him to use the money intended for Terri's medical care and rehabilitative treatment for hiring an attorney in his bid to end her life.
She also helped Michael win guardianship of Terri and assisted him in filing the petition to remove her feeding tube. McCaughey represented Michael until she divorced Felos in 2001.
President Clinton later nominated Whittemore for the federal judgeship.
Whittemore twice went against Congressional legislation that required halting Terri Schiavo's painful starvation death. The measure also allowed Terri's parents to have a complete federal hearing on the merits of their lawsuit, which Judge Whittemore also ruled against.
The stench of Terri's murder by various tin-horn corrupt judicial tyrants lingers. This fecal mass should have recused himself.
nope, not cause to recuse. Sry, no cigar.
Sadly many people equate the judge's decision with justice. I have no such illusion.
I see we're playing six degrees of separation this evening.
The Sicilians involved in this case would have arranged for Whittmore's own death. He really had no choice. After all, this is an "honor killing".
Yes, this one is quite a stretch. (Before flames begin, I confess to being a strong supporter of Terri's right to live).
It's only two degrees of separation - compounded once - and in the case where conflicts of interest have been glaring throughout, it makes me wonder how substantial the separation was.
For those who are believers in "sin and punishment," we could consider that all three of the above have some heavy dues to pay when they come face-to-face with their own mortality, and with the Creator. (Someone must be stoking up the fires down below already, in anticipation of the arrival of this trio.)
Do these three have consciences at all, I wonder?
Char
Nothing in relation to the travesty of the murder of Terri Schiavo surprises me.
Do you consider it a sin to spread rumors?
ping
The article presents fact; not rumors.
Char
That's a fact presented in the article?
Isn't that bearing false witness?
He didn't make that claim. Greer wasn't mentioned in this article either. He was expressing an opinion formed after viewing a lot of information about this case. I agree with him.
They killed a helpless vulnerable disabled woman. Period. It was the perfect crime . . . seemingly.
No, but he slandered three different people and then had the unmitigated gall to spout off about sin.
>>>No one will ever convince me that Terri's death wasn't a set-up between Michael, Felos and Greer right from the beginning.
Thats an absolute FACT for me as well! Thanks!
Not if what he said about them is true, and I suspect it is.
... and then had the unmitigated gall to spout off about sin.
Don't worry, you're safe. Charlite is not the ultimate judge. Besides, he doesn't seem to be talking about you.
For those who are believers in "sin and punishment," ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.