Circuit judge turns down Bush request for Schiavo advocate
By Associated Press
Published January 10, 2004
CLEARWATER - Gov. Jeb Bush's request to keep an independent advocate watching out for Terri Schiavo was turned down Friday by the chief circuit judge for Pinellas County.
Chief Judge David Demers said in an order that he would not reappoint a guardian ad litem to the case, citing pending litigation over the constitutionality of the law that called for the independent advocate.
Terri Schiavo, 40, who doctors say is in a persistent vegetative state, has been the subject of a long legal battle between her husband, who has sought to disconnect the feeding tube keeping her alive, and her parents, who want to take care of her.
Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was disconnected for six days in October on her husband's orders, but Florida lawmakers and Bush intervened and ordered her feedings resumed.
The new law that let the governor order the feedings resumed also called for a guardian ad litem to be appointed to the case and issue a report to the governor.
Once the report was issued, the guardian was dismissed. The judge refused a reappointment.
"The ruling is disappointing," the governor's office said in a statement. "The bill passed by the legislature and signed by the governor is still law and we believe it should be followed.
"Terri Schiavo yet again has been denied an independent voice in the proceedings that may very well determine the outcome of her life."
