A Pinellas-Pasco circuit judge refused Thursday to step down from hearing the constitutional challenge against Terri's Law. Gov. Jeb Bush's lawyers argued Wednesday that Judge Douglas Baird was biased against the law and said he should disqualify himself from hearing the case. They cited as evidence his ruling last week that sharply criticized the law as a violation of Terri Schiavo's constitutional rights.
While Baird's ruling last week criticized the law, the judge warned that he was awaiting a legal brief from the state before making a final decision.
On Thursday, Baird rejected the state's motion to disqualify him from the case, saying it was legally insufficient.
Lawmakers adopted Terri's Law on Oct. 21. The measure allowed Bush to order doctors for Mrs. Schiavo to reinsert her feeding tube after she went six days without food and water.
Mrs. Schiavo, who is severely brain damaged, has been kept alive by a feeding tube for more than 13 years. Many doctors say she is in a persistent vegetative state and cannot recover. Her parents disagree with that diagnosis.
