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 seem to think that having a verbal response to everything makes a point. It doesn't.
My essay, again makes the essential distinctions, whether you like them or not. It will be judged not by what you say, or by what I say about it; but by how well it resonates with the individual readers.
I am going to dinner. But anyone interested can judge for themselves: Terry Schiavo: An End To Rational Analysis?
I had the whole zealot group gang up on me and make all kinds of cutesy little nazi references, I asked them all whether they actually wanted to call me a Nazi over it, you know, cut the crap and say in print what they alluded to.
You guessed it, they all chickend out, of course the majority of their message is just empty hyperbole, surrounded by a shell of phoney-baloney piety. Just like Keyes and Jesse to leap on any situation in a vain attempt to convince America that they aren't as pathetic as everyone thinks! Even if the autopsy comes back stating Terri had nothing left upstairs, the zealots will scream about payoffs, conspiracy, evil, and all that other crap. Predictable as a sunrise.
It's a lie when that person has explicitly said they were against removing the feeding tube.
What I love is that you can't wait for God to do the judgement, instead you want to jump in and do it for him.
God hates that.
They haven't even waited for the autopsy to come out. They've already declared it "fixed".
It's continuously a wonder to me to see those who quite naturally take personal ownership of it when I point out the obvious parallels between the events of the twenties, thirties and forties in Germany and the agenda of the supporters of euthanasia in America today.
Hit a sore spot, did we?
I can't imagine "very good and nice people" being on Michael's side. That man (a friend of yours?) is a sociopath, judging from his own words and acts.
No you all didn't hit a sore spot. What you have just presented there is tortuous "logic" with a malicious dig.
It nicely established my point.
Thanks.
No.
Hah!
I'm no man's judge.
But that doesn't mean I put my reason aside when my government is signing and executing death warrants against uncharged, untried and unconvicted American citizens.
What happened to Terri is just as horrendous as abortion.
And from what I saw, I think Terri probably moved about like a new born or a couple of months old baby but I think that she was probably mentally at the 2-4 year old level at least. She just wasn't able to express at that level with words or running around.
She knew what dancing meant and she moved slightly with her arms in the air when the witnesses mentioned dancing.
Wow, you can say that with a straight face!
Sure thing (first name deleted), just keep on being Mr. Holier than thou, the hypocrisy is quite funny to watch.
Anger medication not working out for you?
Pretty low of you to repeat the antifreeper Clown Posse slanderous lies against me.
Once again, you've lost it.
I apologize, it was bush league, I shouldn't say that, this issue gets me in a furor, and I speak too soon some times.
EV, I apologize, that was low.
To the moderators, I apologize, that wasn't cool, and if you wan't to nail me on it, go ahead.
Apology accepted.
I'll head out of here and let the fires cool.
True but unfortunately you're not one of them. You're agenda extended to writing an ill informed essay about the Schiavo case.
You seem to think that having a verbal response to everything makes a point. It doesn't.
It does and you're non response to the points I made make an even bigger point. You're an ideologue uninterested in rational discourse.
My essay, again makes the essential distinctions, whether you like them or not. It will be judged not by what you say, or by what I say about it; but by how well it resonates with the individual readers.
Your essay sucks. That is of course, just one man's opinion. But there you have it.
I am going to dinner. But anyone interested can judge for themselves: Terry Schiavo: An End To Rational Analysis?
I've judged you and your essay wanting. Enjoy your dinner.
For some reason it posted twice and I spelled repeat wrong.. lol..
THOSE WHO FORGET THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT
I can hear the ubermensch followers of Michael/Bushnell/Felos/Cranford/etc. right now. Heil Greer!
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