ACLJ: Federal Appeals Court Asked to Reinsert Terri Schiavo's Feeding Tube.

WASHINGTON -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which specializes in constitutional law, said today a federal appeals court has the power to reinstate Terri Schiavo's feeding tube and is pleased that the court has agreed to consider a request to rehear a decision last week that rejected a request to order food and hydration restored to Terri Schiavo. In this latest filing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the ACLJ assisted the Florida attorneys representing Bob and Mary Schinder - Terri's parents - in this latest appeal.

"This appeal focuses on what we believe are clear mistakes that were made by the federal district court and appeals court in considering federal legislation that specifically called for an entirely new examination of the facts in this case," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, which represented the Schindlers - Terri's parents - at the Supreme Court in their efforts to defend the previous Florida legislation that was declared unconstitutional. "By agreeing to consider a request for rehearing, the federal appeals court can act immediately to restore Terri's feeding tube. We urge the federal appeals court to step in and act immediately."

In legal filings with the appeals court, Terri's parents contend that the federal district court and appeals court made a clear mistake by ignoring Supreme Court precedent that makes it incumbent upon the federal judiciary to impose a heightened standard of proof and to conduct a new examination of the facts in Terri's case to determine if the Florida court acted properly in ordering the removal of Terri's feeding tube. The appeals court has been asked to reinsert Terri's feeding tube and to rehear the case.

In earlier proceedings with the federal appeals court, the ACLJ represented Congressman Dave Weldon (R-FL) - one of the chief sponsors of the federal legislation passed and signed into law by President Bush that gave the federal courts authority to conduct a full legal review of Terri's case.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice specializes in constitutional law and the protection of human life and is based in Washington, D.C. and is online at www.aclj.org.