Terri Schiavo case

==Terri's Law and other government delays==
{{Main|Government involvement in the Terri Schiavo case}}

On October 15, 2003, Schiavo's feeding tube was removed. Within a week, when the Schindlers' final appeal was exhausted, State Rep. [[Frank Attkisson]] and the [[Florida Legislature]] passed "Terri's Law" in an [[special session|emergency session]] giving Governor [[Jeb Bush]] the authority to intervene in the case. Governor Bush immediately ordered the feeding tube reinserted. Governor Bush sent the [[Florida Department of Law Enforcement]] (FDLE) to remove Schiavo from the hospice. She was taken to Morton Plant Rehabilitation Hospital in Clearwater, where her feeding tube was surgically reinserted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=584124&page=1|title=Transcript: Michael Schiavo on 'Nightline': Husband at the Heart of the 'Right to Die' Case Speaks to Chris Bury|author=Bury, Chris|website=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC News]]|date=March 15, 2005|access-date=February 21, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051226203013/https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=584124&page=1|archive-date=December 26, 2005|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> She was then returned to the hospice. Part of the legislation required the appointment of a [[guardian ad litem|guardian ''ad litem'' (GAL)]], Jay Wolfson, to "deduce and represent the best wishes and best interests" of Schiavo, and report them to Governor Bush. Wolfson's report did not change Michael's role as her legal guardian and did not otherwise obstruct him legally.<ref name="wolfson" />

Michael Schiavo opposed the Governor's intervention in Schiavo's case, and was represented, in part, by the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU). At the same time, Robert and Mary Schindler, her parents, attempted to intervene and participate in the "Terri's Law" case but were denied by Judge W. Douglas Baird, a Circuit Judge in the Florida Sixth Circuit. They appealed, and, on February 13, 2004, the [[Florida District Courts of Appeal|Florida Second District Court of Appeal]] (Second District Court of Appeals) ordered Baird to hold further hearings on the issue.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-09-09|title=Schiavo Case Still In Court|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/schiavo-case-still-in-court/|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=May 6, 2004 }}</ref> On March 17, 2004, Baird denied the Schindlers the right to intervene a second time.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-09-09|title=Judge: Schiavo's parents can't join fight over law|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2004/03/13/judge-schiavo-s-parents-can-t-join-fight-over-law/|website=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref> The Schindlers, represented by the [[American Center for Law and Justice]] (ACLJ), appealed the right to participate in the "Terri's Law" case, with the court scheduling an [[oral argument]] date for June 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://199.242.69.70/pls/ds/ds_docket?p_caseyear=2004&p_casenumber=1528&psCourt=2&psSearchType=|title=State of Florida "Case Docket", Case Number: 2D04-1528|publisher=[[Florida District Courts of Appeal|Florida Second District Court of Appeal]]|date=January 1, 2004|access-date=March 2, 2006}}</ref> The Schindlers' other attorney, Pat Anderson, was concurrently challenging Michael Schiavo's right to be her guardian, and, on June 16, 2004, she made a petition for writ of ''[[quo warranto]]''.

On May 5, 2004, Baird found "Terri's Law" [[constitutionality|unconstitutional]], and struck it down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/trialctorder05-04.txt|title=Michael Schiavo, as Guardian of the person of Theresa Marie Schiavo, Petitioner, v. Jeb Bush, Governor of the State of Florida, and Charlie Crist, Attorney General of the State of Florida, Respondents, Case No. 03-008212-CI-20|author=Baird, W. Douglas Circuit Judge|publisher=Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit|date=May 5, 2005|access-date=February 3, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623023112/http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/trialctorder05-04.txt|archive-date=June 23, 2011|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Bush appealed this order to the Second District Court of Appeals, but on May 12, 2004, the court issued an "Order Relinquishing Case for Entry of Final Judgment and Order to Show Cause Why this Proceeding Should Not be Certified to the Supreme Court As Requiring Immediate Resolution".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/summaries/briefs/04/04-925/Filed_06-04-2004_SchiavoOpposition.pdf|title=Order Relinquishing Case for Entry of Final Judgment and Order to Show Cause Why this Proceeding Should Not be Certified to the Supreme Court As Requiring Immediate Resolution", Case Number: 2D04-2045|author=Birkhold, James Clerk (for The Court)|publisher=[[Florida District Courts of Appeal|Florida Second District Court of Appeal]]|date=May 12, 2004|pages=6–7|access-date=April 1, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050514100614/http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/summaries/briefs/04/04-925/Filed_06-04-2004_SchiavoOpposition.pdf|archive-date=May 14, 2005|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Second District Court of Appeals, in sending it directly to the Florida Supreme Court, invoked "pass through" jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/schiavoposts2004.html|title=Schiavo News|author=Conigliaro, Matt|website=abstractappeal.com|date=June 10, 2004|access-date=April 7, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060425105513/http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/schiavoposts2004.html|archive-date=April 25, 2006|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The Florida Supreme Court then overturned the law as unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/summaries/briefs/04/04-925/Filed_09-23-2004_Opinion.pdf|title=Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, et al., Appellants, vs. Michael Schiavo, Guardian of Theresa Schiavo, Appellee, Case Number: SC04-925|author=Pariente, Barbara Chief Justice (for The Court).|publisher=[[Florida Supreme Court]]|date=September 23, 2004|access-date=April 15, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505022334/http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/summaries/briefs/04/04-925/Filed_09-23-2004_Opinion.pdf|archive-date=May 5, 2006|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>