ACLU Will Honor Judge Who Allowed Euthanasia of Terri Schiavo 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 6, 2005
Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — The national legal organization that helped Terri Schiavo’s estranged husband win the right to euthanize her is awarding the local judge who made it possible. Circuit Judge George Greer is slated to receive an award from the Pinellas County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
At an upcoming dinner, Judge Greer, who authorized Michael Schiavo to end Terri’s life over the objections of her parents and family, will receive the Gardner W. Beckett Jr. Civil Liberties Award.
Greer will be honored Thursday at the Feather Sound Country Club.
Judge Greer came under intense scrutiny in the Terri Schiavo case and was accused of colluding with Michael’s attorney, assisted suicide advocate George Felos, in appointing an "impartial" doctor to assess Terri’s condition whose brother had previously worked with Felos.
Terri’s brother Bobby Schindler once told LifeNews.com about Greer, "With every hearing, it gets more obvious to me that this judge is working to insulate Michael Schiavo and, in the process, is causing harm to my sister and torturing my parents. God have mercy on other parents of disabled people in this jurisdiction."
Greer was also accused of violating 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."
Yet, Judge Greer frequently discussed the case with media outlets.
Wesley J. Smith, an attorney who closely follows medical ethics issues, said, during the legal battle over Terri’s life, that Judge Greer was performing terribly in the courtroom.
"As bad as Michael has been, in many ways, the performance of Judge George W. Greer of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the jurist who oversees Terri’s case, has been even worse," he explained.
"Over the years Greer has repeatedly allowed Michael to shirk his legal mandate as guardian to file annual prospective "guardianship plans," specifying his proposal for providing for Terri’s medical and social needs for the coming year," he added.
"Judge Greer’s performance has been so deficient that he should be removed from the case forthwith, if not impeached," he explained.
You can register your complaints with the ACLU by calling 727 822-9290 or sending an email to [email protected].
Related web sites:
Terri’s family — https://www.terrisfight.org
