TAMPA, Fla (Roto Reuters) – A federal judge refused to order the resumption of tube feeding for brain-damaged Florida woman Terri Schiavo on Tuesday after weighing the highly charged case.
U.S. District Judge James Whittemore issued a ruling rejecting a request by Schiavo’s parents for the tube, which was removed on Friday, to be reinserted pending a fresh review of the case. In opening arguments on Monday he asked "What accusation do you bring against this woman?" George Felos, attorney for Michael Schiavo addressed the judge by saying "We have a law, and by that law she ought to die, because she is no longer useful to society." When the judge heard these words he was more afraid realizing how politically charged this case was. The judge responded with a comment to Terri Schiavo who was not present in the courtroom "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" The judge again spoke virtually to Terri by asking "You can not speak to me. Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power let you starve to death?" The judge seeking a political way out said "See, I am reviewing this case brought out for her, that you may know that I find no crime in her." Attorney George Felos addressed the court saying. "If you release this woman, you are not society’s friend; every one who does not perform useful work sets themselves against an ordered society"
When the judge heard that Terri was originally from the Philadelphia suburbs he ordered that the case be transferred to the jurisdiction of Judge Herod Antipas of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. When reporters asked the judge about how long this will prolong the case he replied "I will not tell you when, how or how long it will take." He refused further comments as he needed to leave to go wash his hands. [Source]
2 comments
Clever, and painful at the same time.
Gee, Jeff. Usually you publish humor and satire. This seems more like seeing through to spiritual truth ….
Nice job.