March 10, 2005
OPEN LETTER TO JUDGE GEORGE W. GREER
The Honorable George W. Greer
The Sixth Judicial Circut Court of Florida
Pinellas County, Florida
Dear Judge Greer:
Today, March 10, 2005, I listened to the radio on the way home from an appointment. I heard on the 1:00 PM news that you had denied a petition to allow the adult protective services of Florida to investigate whether or not there was sufficient evidence to determine if Terri Schiavo had been mistreated by her guardian. This of course allows the current ruling of your court to stand and will ultimately allow Michael Schiavo to have the feeding tube disconnected causing the ultimate death of Mrs. Schiavo by starvation. I am at a total loss as to why you are in such a hurry to see this woman die, when you have been informed, doubtlessly by many sources, that this (the issue of mismanagement of her guardianship) is a distinct possibility.
I am at a further loss to understand what the "big hurry" is to cause her death by starvation. I understand that this court action has taken years, but what possible harm (except perhaps to Michael Schiavo's ego and your own inability to see beyond your current rulings)a few more days or weeks to complete. If, as I and many others believe based on current information, Mrs. Schiavo's current guardian (Michael S.) has not functioned fully and completely as a guardian of an incompetant persons life, what is the hurry? You are in possession (and if you are not, you should be) of information that she was for a long period kept in isolation, nurses were instructed not to allow her to see outside, turn her or even brush her teeth. In fact, there can be a case made that Mrs. Schiavo has not been afforded the same protections given to any citizen of Pinellas County, The State of Florida or indeed to any citizen of the United States. Specifically the protections that are afforded are:
“No person shall be deprived of any right because of race, religion, national origin, or physical disabilityâ€Â, and, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.†And, what due process is guaranteed? "The right of trial by jury shall be secure to all and remain inviolate."Information readily available to you and to others gives sufficient evidence that all is not as it appears to be. There is significant doubt as to whether Mrs. Schiavo meets Florida criteria for persistant vegetative state (PVS) and more than sufficient evidence that she does not. If not, imagine if you can find it in your heart and in your imagination, what her feelings will be as she slowly starves and cannot imagine why she is not being fed. You will not even allow a study to be done to see if she can swallow on her own. Have you no humanity?
Some have suggested that the right to the protection of a jury is not applicable in Terri’s case because it is not a criminal case. But Florida’s own Supreme Court in Case No. 79,396 _B.J.Y., Petitioner/Appellant, vs. M.A., Respondent/Appellee. [April 29, 1993], has made it quite clear the protection of a jury is a vital part of Florida’s due process and “…is not to be narrowly construed.â€Â
Lastly, as an appeal to you personally, I watched each of my parent's die of irreversable illness on different occasions and I was with them both as they breathed their last. Both of these wonderful people had indicated to more than one person on more than one occasion that that would be their wish. This is not the case with Mrs. Schiavo, and her husband's claims to the contrary should at the very minimum give you pause. In addition, the story of Kate Adamson posted at Wittenberg Gate should give you pause. Kate was the victim of a brain-stem stroke and was thought to be in a persistent vegetative state. She pulled through and after many many months of being "a vegetable" is now back home with her family, actively particpating in her life. Terri has never had that chance because Mr. Schiavo has not provided the rehabilitation he promised the court he would provide.
I'm hoping and praying you will listen to reason and find it in your heart to at least allow the investigation to continue and will allow other motions before your court to at least be considered before a great tragedy occurs. Life is too prescious to toss away in such a cavalier fashion.
Sincerely
GMRoper
Bravo GM! Well said! A PS should say to at least go and visit Terri before he makes another decision. He may be legally blind but she at least deserves to be seen up close and personal.
Posted by Alnot at March 10, 2005 08:56 PM
Good post, my initial reaction was anger and wanting to go down to Greer's house with pitchforks and torches. It's good to know some people can still have enough patience to try to reason with that man. I truly believe it is about a man who refuses to consider if he has made an error in judgement. He is too afraid to admit a mistake, he is willing to do the wrong thing, isn't that sad?
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Jody, its not just sad, its tragic. To err is to be human, refusal to admit error in the face of all rational argument is hubris.
Thanks for writing.... GMR
Posted by Jody at March 10, 2005 09:39 PM
Upon the Judges death may he regain his "lost sight" long enough to see HELL because thats where he's going.....
Posted by MMM at March 12, 2005 04:06 AM
This is an excellent and well thought out response to George Greer. He really is the epitome of the unjust judge, willing to condemn the innocent and let the guilty go free.
Maggie
Posted by Margaret at March 14, 2005 03:49 AM
Yes...let's label ourselves as compassionate christians and hope for the death of Judge Greer!! That makes alot of sense doesn't it?
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I have re-read the comments posted and do not find anyone wishing for the death of judge greer. Having said that, I'm going to allow your comment to remain as an example of how wrong headed some can be. No one wishes the Judges death, we have all expressed a wish for him to change his mind. One commenter did note that "upon the death of judge greer" which is a far cry from wishing his death. Do you not believe that we are all going to die someday? The author of that comment was stating his/her belief that when the judge does die, he/she believes that the judge will see the fires of hell for his actions. I am not willing to go that far because I'm not willing to judge. However, I am willing to say that the judges actions are wrong, flat out wrong.
GMR
Posted by hello at March 17, 2005 10:15 PM
Great job GM,
Did you actually send this to the Judge? I hope so, I think he needs to hear this kind of thing along with legislators. No need for him to feel comfortable in a cocoon of isolation. You are a better man than I. I sent him a letter and I am afraid I wasn't quite as diplomatic as you were. Normally, I am pretty laid back. This case is so absurd and makes me so angry I pretty much told him what I thought of him.
Keep up the good work!
God Bless,
Mike >>
Posted by Mike Bennett at March 18, 2005 08:27 AM
THis Judge " Term used loosely" depicts the evil and cold society in which we now live. As I watched this Judge rule time and again in favor of Terr's " gaurdian" I was beside myself with anger and fear. Fear for our entire society. This judge was allowed, yes allowed by our society, legislatures, Congress and The CHristian members, to Murder a helpless human being.
It is a judges DUTY to examine all evidence on both sides.. that includes order NEW more advanced tests.. it is his/her duty to assure the " Protection of ALL people, and afford each their constitutional rights.
This judge knew that Mr. Schiavo was in direct violation of the requirements of a Gaurdian,, ( i,e reports, using monies for her rehab to pay for attorneys to fight for her death)..
This judge ALLOWED and granted Permission for those lawyers to be paid with monies for Terr's rehab.
The judge knew she had not been afforded any chance to receive rehab. IN essance he was AN Accompliss and the Author of her death!
THis woman breathed on her own... there were doctors and nurses that testified she did indicate some response to her environment and people.. How could he say she would not benefit from rehab when she was never given the chance.?
THis judge is an embarrasment to Any human being that still has the ability to THINK and as a result sees his personal vendetta in this case, He is an insult to all other Judges that strive to remain impartial and who truly represent the laws and our constitution, He is a sickening and poor example of a " Christian" ( that he claims to be) in which Compassion is taught, He is in reality a " Criminal" judging others in a " Mock Court"! He violated the constitution, violated the right of Terri for " Equal Protection" violated her Protection rights for persons with disabilities, broke the law by allowing Terri's money intended for rehabilitation ( that she was deprived of since early 1990's) to be embezzled by her spouse and used to strive to legally have her murdered.He violated every ethical an d moral code that we the people believed was available to protect an innocent, helpless person.
THis " Judge" ( again used loosely) allowed each of us a picture of a person without emotion, compassion for his/her fellow man, without the ability to remove himself from a case he was too personally involved in, a picture of Terrorism in our courts ( we once feared terror from abroad , as in 9/11 and the senseless death and suffering caused), now we the people can now fear hundreds if not thousands of senseless deaths afforded to our loved ones, ( or ousrelves) that may not be able to feed ourselves or respond as some Judge and his Panel of expers" deem appropriate to allow them to be considered " worthy of living".
THe bottom line here is that when there is no EVIDENCE ( not words from a gaurdian) that this person would choose death, if there is the SLIGHTEST DOUBT ( as in family members eaech stating a difference in what that patient would choose, 2 things MUST be done.. A SEPERATE Gaurdian must be chosen ( UNRELATED), and LIFE must be allowed to continue and EVERY effort given for this person to receive rehabilitation and treatments previously denied!
NO Judge or for that fact NO ONE should have the right to deny treatment or rehabilitation if there is ANY chance, however slight that it may benefit the patient.
I am ashamed of what we as a society have become...
and this JUDGE MUST BE IMPEACHED. TYRRANY cannot be allowed in our courts!
Posted by Lori at April 15, 2005 12:42 AM
