Wolfson appointed guardian in Schiavo case; Pro-family leader appointed to governor's legal team

TAMPA (FBW)-Despite allegations that he might have already been biased in the case of 39-year-old brain damaged Terri Schiavo, Jay Wolfson, a medical doctor and lawyer, who is a professor of health and law at Stetson University, has been named to be guardian ad litem to the woman who is at the center of a so-called right-to-die debate.

Wolfson, who also works for the College of Public Health at Florida State University and the College of Medicine at the University of South Florida, will be required, according to the Associated Press, to report recommendations on Terri’s fitness for rehabilitation and on her care to Gov. Jeb Bush. He will also decide whether the feeding tube removed Oct. 15 and then restored at the order of the governor Oct. 21 should continue to deliver nutrition and hydration to Terri.

Pinellas Circuit Court Judge David Demers appointed Wolfson Oct. 31 despite objections filed in court Oct. 25 and Oct. 29 on behalf of Schiavo’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who believe Wolfson may be biased based on a television interview where he commented on the constitutionality of “Terri’s Law.”

Judge Demers, according to the Associated Press report, said he believed Wolfson could be fair and impartial.

In related news, Gov. Jeb Bush has engaged Ken Connor, a noted Florida trial attorney and a former member of the Florida State Constitutional Revision Commission, to join the state’s litigation team in defense of “Terri’s Law.”

Connor is the former president of Family Research Council, one of Washington’s leading pro-family organizations. The announcement of Connor’s involvement was made by Family Research Council president Tony Perkins.

Terri's Law, as it is now called, is a bill passed by the Florida legislature Oct. 21 and signed into law by Florida's Governor Jeb Bush. The legislation gave Gov. Bush the authority to order Terri's feeding tube re-inserted in order to prevent her from dying by starvation and dehydration. Her feeding tube had been removed Oct. 15--against her parent's wishes-- at a judge's order backing Michael Schiavo's request for its removal and seemingly ending a more than five-year legal battle over Terri.

Michael Schiavo, Terri’s husband, who was also her legal guardian until last week, filed a petition with the Pinellas Country Circuit Court Oct. 29 challenging the constitutionality of the governor’s actions.

In related news, Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, an international public interest law firm which specializes in constitutional law, asked the court Oct. 30 to represent Robert and Mary Schindler in just one aspect of Schiavo v. Bush--the legal challenge to the constitutionality of the actions of Gov. Bush and the state legislature.

Patricia Anderson, a St. Petersburg attorney, continues to represent Terri's parents in all other aspects of the case.

The American Civil Liberties Union has joined with George Felos, a Florida attorney representing Michael Schiavo.

Terri Schiavo’s parents are slated to appear on CNN’s “Larry King Live” Nov. 6, at which time they will reportedly answer questions and address allegations made on the same show by Michael Schiavo Oct. 27.