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Schiavo's Parents Await Federal Court Ruling

Parents Await Federal Ruling

Jeb says his hands were increasingly tied

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. -- Terri Schiavo's parents suffered several legal defeats Thursday, but still held out hope that a federal judge would decide to reinsert their brain-damaged daughter's feeding tube.

Earlier in the day, both the U.S. Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court denied attempts to save the 41-year-old woman, who has been without food or water for six full days and was showing signs of dehydration.

In the federal court hearing Thursday evening, U.S. District Judge James Whittemore heard the Schindlers' emergency request that the feeding tube be reattached while they pursue their claims that Schiavo's religious and due-process rights were violated.

Whittemore, who had previously rejected a similar request from Schiavo's parents, and said many of the plaintiff's motions were redundant after the hearing. He said he would stay in his chambers until he reached a decision.

Bob and Mary Schindler, the woman's parents, were also hoping that Florida Gov. Jeb Bush would somehow find a way to intervene — but Bush warned that he was running out of options.

Even before the state high court's ruling, the governor acknowledged Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press that his hands were increasingly tied.

"It is frustrating for people to think that I have power that I don't, and not be able to act," he said. "I don't have embedded special powers. I wish I did in this particular case."


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Posted by Editor at March 24, 2005 11:28 PM