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Florida Gov Bush Appeals Schiavo Death Sentence

Bush's attorney says, "It ain't over 'til it's over,"

CLEARWATER, Florida, October 6, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Florida Governor Jeb Bush appealed to the state Supreme Court Monday to reconsider its decision allowing brain-damaged Terri Schiavo's feeding tube to be removed.

The court ruled unanimously in September to strike down Terri's Law, which protected Schiavo from her estranged husband's order to have her feeding tube removed. The law, passed by the Florida legislature and signed by Governor Jeb Bush, was ruled by the justices to be a violation of the separation of powers between the courts and the legislature.

Bush, in a press release, said he worried the court ruling would have more far-reaching effects than those intended. "The Florida Legislature has passed numerous laws giving governors broad discretion in specific circumstances," he said, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel. "The Court's ruling could call those laws into question, and may limit the Legislature's ability to govern."

Putting the situation into context, Concerned Women for America's Wendy Wright described Terri's estranged husband. "Michael Schiavo won a lawsuit granting him a large sum of money based on his claim that he would care for Terri in her disabled state. As soon as the money was in the bank, he began advocating for the right to starve her to death," said Wright.

Bush's request for appeal was criticized by Michael Schiavo's attorney, euthanasia activist George Felos. "This is just a rehash of what's already been briefed and argued before this court and, in that sense, this is really an improper motion," he said. "I think it's hard to view this motion as anything other than an attempt to delay the proceedings."

Michael Schiavo has been co-habiting with another woman and has two children by her.

If the Florida court refuses to hear an appeal, Gov Bush is likely to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, Bush's attorney, Ken Connor, said. "It ain't over 'til it's over," he said.

Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Florida Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Protecting Disabled Terri Schiavo from Starvation
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/sep/04092303.html

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