I know I might get flak from the wild turkeys but I think this sums it up quite nicely. As Barry Goldwater said, "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice .... and moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
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.
Yes, you too have learned the language of prolife love. Welcome to the pact.
This is one of the stupidest things I have ever read in my life. It's even stupid for a leftist!
Aileen Wuornos lured men to their deaths, slaughtering them in cold blood. She put up a ridiculous defense that she, as a highway hooker, killed seven men in self-defense without ever alerting law enforcement. After being convicted and placed on death row, she finally admitted the truth of her malice aforethought, and was executed.
Terri Schiavo hurt no one, and there was only hearsay evidence that she wanted to die in her condition. There is no evidence that Jeb was 'joyful' after the serial murderer was put to death, but if he was, so flippin' what? What kind of mind is more pained by the killing of a confessed murderer than by the killing of his/her innocent victims?
I can't believe that someone with a brain that can't compute the difference between these two women passed the bar on his own. This idiot must have come to law school with a leftist agenda and crib notes tattooed on his arm!
You came here as a liar, and you'll leave here as a liar. Now scurry back into your crack.
Does that mean that all those battle situations where an impossibly non-recoverable person is taken out of their misery is considered wrong?
Yeah, but they didn't have feeding tubes in that day. You're welcome to twist you pro-life orthodoxy to whatever extreme you like when it involves yourself. But don't impose your orthodoxy on others.
That's a pretty narcissistic extrapolation you're making there, dude.
I hope you don't try to portray yourself as a Christian. Lying isn't Christ like.
Yes, I know what your kind thinks of Christians. I won't be taking lessons on Christianity from the likes of you.
In fact, I attribute 'Never remember' to you simply because you seem to be of the habit of trying to discredit even perfect parallels between what the Nazis did and the current agenda of the advocates of euthanasia.
Do you know who the first victims of the Nazis were?
The disabled.
Emptied the hospitals, they did.
And the deceptive language and legalistic tactics they used to justify their actions are almost identical...
Well, excuse me, dudette.
Good idea. My recommendation is to take your lessons from Christ himself. HTH
Oh, I totally agree.
No matter how much dirt they throw up in the air, they will never obscure the simple facts of this case.
Well stated! I don't understand how anyone can be confused about that. And yet, we have people right here on this very thread who don't know the difference between good and evil.
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