Newswire

Gov. Bush's Request for Custody of Schiavo Denied

Greer refuses to listen to Governor

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. -- A circuit court judge denied Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's request to take protective custody of Terri Schiavo on Thursday, perhaps spelling the end of the protracted legal battled over how the severely brain-damaged woman ought to die.

The decision by Judge George Greer, who has consistently ruled that Schiavo did not want to be kept alive artificially, was not surprising, though it came two hours later than expected.

Greer had earlier barred the Department of Children & Families in an emergency order from taking custody of Schiavo.

The long-shot moves by the state of Florida came as the U.S. Supreme Court once again refused to order Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted.

"The governor is disappointed [at the Supreme Court decision] and will continue to do whatever he can within the law to save Terri's life," Bush spokesman Jacob DiPietre said.

Schindler family spokesman Randall Terry said they felt "bitter disappointment" that the state was not acting more forcefully.

"The question we have for the governor and DCF is why did you come forward and say you have the authority to statutorily intervene if you didn't have the authority to do it ... Why were we in court asking for permission?" Terry asked.


http://www.foxnews.com/printer_fri
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Posted by Editor at March 24, 2005 02:54 PM