Terri Schiavo’s Family Files Motion to Disqualify Judge
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 9, 2003
Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — The family of Terri Schiavo is using every legal option possible in order to spare Terri’s life. On Monday, the family filed a motion seeking to disqualify Circuit Court Judge George Greer from presiding over the case.
Greer, who has Terri’s fate in his hands, has talked to members of the media and to colleagues about the case without attorneys from both sides present, the family says.
Patricia Anderson, the attorney for Terri’s family, alleges Greer is in violation of the state code of judicial conduct.
The code says that, while a proceeding is pending in court, judges should not "make any public comment that might reasonably be expected to affect its outcome or impair its fairness or make any non-public comment that might substantially interfere with a fair trial or hearing."
Bob Schindler, Terri’s father, said in the motion "I cannot possibly receive a fair, unbiased hearing before Judge Greer."
George Felos, attorney for Terri’s husband Michale Schiavo, criticized the family. He says they are filing frivilous legal motions in an attempt to delay the inevitable.
"As the Schindlers run out of legal options, their tactics have become more desperate," Felos said Tuesday. "It’s an abuse of the legal system."
Felos filed his own emergency motion asking an appeals court to order the withdrawal of nutrition and hydration that is keeping Terri alive. He wants Terri’s life ended immediately whether Greer recuses himself from the case or not.
Greer has scheduled a September 11 hearing date to decide whether or not to remove Terri’s feeding tube.
In the family’s motion, Anderson says Greer participated in what appeared to be an informal press conference with reporters from the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times.
Related web sites:
Terri’s family – https://www.terrisfight.org
