U.S. Supreme Court Justices Refuse to Intervene in Schiavo Case
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday turned down an appeal by Terri Schiavo’s parents to have their disabled daughter’s feeding tube reinserted.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday turned down an appeal by Terri Schiavo’s parents to have their disabled daughter’s feeding tube reinserted.
Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, filed the appeal with the high court late Wednesday, after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta refused to order the tube reinserted and Florida lawmakers decided not to intervene.
The appeal to the high court asked the Justices to fully review Terri’s case on the basis that her due process and religious freedom rights were violated. The appeal also asserted that Terri faces and unjust and imminent death and that Congress intended for Shchiavo’s tube to be reinserted when it passed the bill last weekend that gave federal courts authority to review the case.
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Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is in charge of emergency appeals that come from the 11th Circuit Court, referred the appeal to the other eight justices. However, the Justices declined to get involved with no explanations.
The Schindlers’ attorney, David Gibbs III said he wished the high court "waded in," adding that the justices "could have provided great guidance in this confusing issue."
Despite of the setback at the nation’s highest court, Gibbs filed an amended version of his still-pending civil rights lawsuit against Michael Schiavo and others in federal court in Tampa. Michael, Terri’s husband and legal guardian, claims his wife did not wish to be kept alive artificially. He has battled with the Schindlers for some seven years over the Terri’s fate.
Following the Supreme Court ruling, George Felos, Michael’s attorney, said his client is “hopeful that the case will soon be peacefully settled”.
Meanwhile, supporters of Terri Schiavo criticized the ruling and looked toward Gov. Jeb Bush to intervene.
"There is no legislative and legal option open to us now. ... Gov. Bush is now the only practical hope for Terri Schiavo. Let us pray now for that," the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, a Schindler family advocate, said to the Associated Press.
Thursday marks the sixth full day since Teri’s tube was removed.
