PRESS RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 30, 2005
CONTACT:
Illinois Right to Life Committee
William Beckman, Executive Director, 312-422-9300
Double Standard on Legal
Issues?
Media commentators on the Terri
Schiavo case have criticized attempts to introduce new evidence in the case. Some have claimed such action would threaten the
functionality of the court system. If Terri
was on death row, do you think these same commentators would be criticizing attempts to
introduce new evidence that might prove innocence? Why
is it that they are so opposed to new evidence that Terri might not be in a persistent
vegetative state or evidence that she even tried to express her desire to live?
If you mention the efforts by Governor
Jeb Bush to save Terris life, you will immediately be confronted with concerns that
such action violates the separation of powers between branches of government. If Terri was on death row, would they have the
same concerns? Apparently not! Remember when Governor George Ryan decided to
commute the sentences of everyone on death row in Illinois?
Did the commentators criticize him for violating provisions of Illinois law
on the death penalty? Did they complain that
he was overstepping the judiciary by revising the sentences of all death row inmates? Absolutely not!
They began suggesting that Ryan should be nominated for a Nobel Prize.
In contrast, their reaction to Jeb Bush suggesting that he might take custody of
Terri Schiavo to protect her from imminent death was quite different. They immediately suggested that if he took such an
action, he should be impeached. Why is Governor
Bush's suggestion to take custody of Terri Schiavo viewed so differently than Governor
Ryan's action that overrode numerous court decisions on the appropriate punishment for
convicted criminals?
If anyone should be impeached, it is Judge George Greer! Greer has continually denied all attempts by
Terris parents to present evidence on the two key issues in this case. First, did Terri ever express concerns about
living with a feeding tube? Second, is Terri
really in a persistent vegetative state? There
is conflicting information on both of these points, but Judge Greer was only willing to
consider one side. His rulings were
consistently in favor of Terris estranged husband, Michael. Now Greer's rulings are responsible for Terri's ongoing painful
starvation. This is judicial homicide, or as Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass
called it, murder.
William
Beckman
Executive Director
Illinois Right to Life Committee
65 E. Wacker Place, Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60601
312-422-9300
beckman@illinoisrighttolife.org
www.illinoisrighttolife.org
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Illinois Right to Life Committee,
founded in 1968, is the oldest Pro-Life educational organization in Illinois.
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