Terri Schiavo’s Parents Ask Federal Judge to Review Florida Courts’ Decisions 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 18, 2005
Tampa, FL (LifeNews.com) — The attorney for Terri Schiavo’s parents Bob and Mary Schindler has filed a request with a federal judge to review the decisions made by state courts authorizing her estranged husband Michael to remove her feeding tube this afternoon.
Such habeas corpus appeals are normally filed for prisoners on death row who have been convicted and sentenced to the death penalty.
Federal law is unclear on whether a habeas corpus petition can be filed in Terri’s situation, which prompted Congress to consider legislation specifically allowing it. However, the House and Senate approved different bills and could not iron out a final version of the legislation to send to President Bush.
Because of that impasse, Schindler attorney David Gibbs moved forward with the habeas corpus motion and asked a Tampa federal judge to review it.
"We are going to ask him to issue a stay because in this case, state action would be used to end the life of an innocent, disabled woman," Gibbs told the Associated Press.
Normally the Florida attorney general’s office would oppose such a motion, but there was no word as to whether it would in this case — especially since Governor Jeb Bush has taken a strong stand in supporting Terri’s parents’ efforts to prevent their daughter’s starvation.
Meanwhile, Terri’s family is planning to spend as much time as possible with her. Bob Schindler visited Terri this morning.
Related web sites:
Terri Schiavo’s parents – https://www.terrisfight.org
