George Greer

Infobox Judge
name = George Greer

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office = Circuit Court Judge for Florida
termstart = 1992
termend = Present
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office2 = Pinellas County Commissioner
termstart2 = 1984
termend2 = 1992
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George W. Greer (born 1942) is a judge serving in the Pinellas-Pasco County Circuit Court, probate division, in Clearwater, Florida, who received national attention when he presided over the Terri Schiavo case.

Background and personal information

Born in 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, Judge Greer grew up in Dunedin, Florida. He received his associate's degree from St. Petersburg Junior College in 1962, his bachelor's degree from Florida State University at Tallahassee in 1964, and his law degree from the University of Florida's College of Law in Gainesville in 1966. He became a commissioner of Pinellas County in 1984. He was first elected to his present position of probate judge in 1992 on a nonpartisan ballot, was reelected in 1998 and 2004, and plans to retire in 2010 after his current term expires.

Greer is a Southern Baptist and a Republican.

He is legally blind and cannot drive cars. His colleagues say his condition gives him a unique perspective on the rights of the impaired. During Greer's studies at Florida State, he was for a time a roommate of Jim Morrison, who later became lead vocalist of The Doors.

Terri Schiavo Case

He received substantial attention in the American national media and around the world for his involvement in the Terri Schiavo case, as well as criticism from many different mainly right to life groups for his ruling that her feeding tube should be removed, according to what her husband insisted would be her wishes.

Because Greer's controversial decisions in the Schiavo case conflicted with the opinions of patrons at his church, the Calvary Baptist Church of Clearwater, Greer was asked by pastor William Rice to clarify his relationship with his church. Greer then withdrew his membership from the Calvary congregation.

Awards

2004 he was awarded the Clearwater's Bar Association's highest honor becoming the only judge becoming the only judge to win it twice.

2005 he was awarded the Presidents Award of Merit from the Florida Bar. Those who know Judge Greer and practice in front of him believe he is the ideal jurist," said President Kelly Overstreet Johnson. "He is fair, he is impartial, and his rulings are based on law, not emotions and not politics."

2005 he was awarded the Benjamin Franklin award by the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club which recognizes those persons who, through public appointed or elected service, have exhibited extraordinary integrity, courage and achievement

2005 was awarded the Special Justice award from the Pasco Bar. President Joan Hook said "He is very meticulous in his decisions and he is a supporter of the law, doesn't let his emotions or personal feelings get in the way of his analysis of the law."

2005 Jurist of the Year by the Florida Chapter American Board of Trial Advocates

September he was named 2005 Bay Area Champion of Justice by the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association

Hogan Divorce Case

Judge Greer is presiding over the 2008 divorce case of Hulk Hogan and his wife, Linda Bollea. On January 30, 2008, Greer denied Linda's motion to have Hulk's assets frozen. [http://nodq.com/wwe/203745544.shtml]

ee also

*Barry Cohen (attorney)

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/06/Tampabay/Quiet_judge_persists_.shtml "St. Petersburg Times" article]
* [http://www.bioethics.upenn.edu/symposium/?pageId=1&subpage=290 University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics 10th Anniversary Symposium]