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Thursday, March 24, 2005
Judge rebuffs Florida’s request
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A state judge refused Thursday to hear Gov. Jeb Bush’s arguments to take custody of Terri Schiavo, leaving the brain-damaged woman’s parents with only the slimmest hopes in their fight to keep her alive.
Bush’s request cited new allegations of neglect and challenges Schiavo’s diagnosis as being in a persistent vegetative state, but Pinellas Circuit Judge George Greer wasn’t convinced.
Greer’s decision came hours after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to order her feeding tube reinserted. The decisions reduce chances for quick intervention to reconnect the tube, which was pulled Friday. Doctors have said Schiavo, 41, likely would die in a week or two without nourishment.
Permalink | Categories: Schiavo case
Supreme Court refuses to hear case
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to order Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube reinserted, rejecting a desperate appeal by her parents to keep their severely brain-damaged daughter alive.
The decision, announced in a terse one-page order, marked the end of a dramatic and disheartening four-day dash for her parents, Bob and Mary Schlindler, through the federal court system.
Justices did not explain their decision, which was at least the fifth time they have declined to get involved in the Schiavo case.
There was no indication of how the individual justices voted.
Permalink | Categories: Schiavo case
Pressure put on Bush to defy court
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Advocates for the family of Terri Schiavo increased pressure on Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to defy court orders and intervene physically in the case of the brain-damaged woman whose feeding tube was removed Friday.
Such an action could result in a confrontation between state and local police.
“The governor is the chief executive of the state,” said Randall Terry, an anti-abortion advocate and spokesman for Schiavo’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler.
“The last time I looked, he doesn’t have to ask permission to enforce the laws of the state.”
But, Lt. Kevin Riley of the Pinellas Park Police Department, commander on the scene at the hospice where Schiavo lies, said his officers are under the orders of State Court Judge George W. Greer not to allow the state Department of Children and Families or any other agency, to interfere with Schiavo.
“We intend to enforce that order,” he said.
The Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalitions, said advocates for the family had expected the governor to take custody of Schiavo Wednesday night, but Bush apparently decided to wait on a Supreme Court ruling and for a new ruling expected today from Greer.
The Supreme Court refused this morning to take up the case.
Terry accused “pro-life, pro-family Republicans” of succumbing to what he called “tyrannical judges.”
“If Terri Schiavo dies,” Terry said, “there will be hell to pay.”
Permalink | Categories: Schiavo case
Adviser: Schindlers have little recourse now
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Supreme Court’s decision today to not order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube leaves the family with little recourse, said a family spiritual adviser this morning.
Rev. Patrick Mahoney, head of the Christian Defense Coalition, and an advocate for the the brain-damaged woman’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, said, “Yesterday our legislative options closed. Just now our legal options closed. Gov. Bush is now the only practical hope for Terri Schiavo.”
At 12:30, the demonstrators outside the Florida hospice today plan to stage a vigil outside the Pinellas County Courthouse, where Sixth Circuit Judge George W. Greer is slated to decide whether the state can take protective custody of Schiavo.
On Friday, Greer ordered that Schiavo’s feeding tube be removed.
“We are not giving up. We are praying,” said Mahoney.
Permalink | Categories: Schiavo case
