* Copies of the briefs, which I have filed, are available at the various courts (6th Circuit in Pinellas Cty, 2nd Appellate DCA, here in Lakeland, and Fla Supreme Court) - for a fee - and copies are available online at:

http://HomeTown.AOL.com/Gww1210 or http://www.GeoCities.com/Gordon_Watts32313

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
I have become involved (filed legal papers) in the Terri Schiavo case, and, as unusual as it seems, I do have legal standing to do so. Also, I know it's been a complicated case, but the general public still has misconceptions - to wit:

PUBLIC MISCONCEPTIONS
People to whom I've spoken (and I've found almost no exceptions - after speaking with many people) almost all think that what happened to Schiavo was both (1) legal and (2) court-ordered. ** IN TRUTH: Some of what happened to her was questionable but legal (removal of feeding tube), but other stuff was ILLEGAL: (-1-) Removal of "regular" food constitutes "mercy-killing," prohibited by the statutes (outlined in just ONE of my "Schiavo" suits), which prohibit the like of Dr. Jack Kevorkian from "doing his thing." (This would suggest your news organization needs to inform the public, so misconceptions like this will cease: (-2-) The courts never ordered the withholding of "regular" food - and the fact that she may not be able to feed herself - like world-renowned physicist, Dr. Stephen Hawking or "Superman" actor, Christopher Reeves - is of no import - as the law makes no provision for consideration of these topics. The law is clear and unambiguous on this matter: Mercy-Killing, be it by starvation, lethal injection, or whatever, is *ILLEGAL* - even if the courts had ordered such, and they have not, per above.)

GENERAL PRESS RELEASE IN RE SCHIAVO - Types of court actions filed:

(1) The Amicus Curiae is a "friend of the court" brief, which anyone can file - such as the ACLU and some out-of-state organizations have already filed. I, as a Florida Citizen, have even more legal standing, as the Amicus deals with a Florida Law. (In my Amicus, I supported Big Jeb! in his contention that "Terri's Law" is not unconstitutional.) I have only filed one of these "archetypes," and it was very short and to the point, because most of the issues had already been covered - and just needed clarification: Busy judges like short briefs, such as this six-page brief covering Separation of Powers, Due Process, Equal Protection, and Constitutional "Privacy" Rights. (Copies of all briefs I've filed in this cause are posted online, as listed above.)

(2) The second "type" is a petition for some of the great writs, the most notably, of course, being the Writ of Habeas Corpus, which can test ANY type of illegal deprivation of justice, but is most commonly used to test illegal jailing and also illegal taking of a child - in custody cases - spousal disputes, in fact. Here, I have filed as "next friend" in three (3) different courts authorized to hear Habeas pleas in Florida, and this is "shaky" legal standing, but since *no one* else has asked the court to test these problems, someone must, and I am that someone. In fact, I have asked the court for four (4) original writs: (1) The Habeas mentioned above; (2) A Mandamus to compel the local police to uphold the euthanasia/mercy-killing and assisted suicide laws, (3) A Writ of Prohibition, which would prohibit the lower courts from exceeding their authority in their attempts to stop rehabilitation, which other courts have not only ordered, but also funded - and lastly, (4) A writ of Quo Warranto, which would ask certain parties (chiefly, estranged husband Michael Schiavo) "by what right" he illegally attemts a mercy killing (or, if Terri was unwilling, an attempted felony murder). "Quo Warranto" is best-known to ask "by what right" a person holds a certain office.

WHY MY COURT ACTION IS DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER BRIEFS FILED SO FAR
After careful research, it appears the only two "writs" any attorney for Terri Schiavo has asked was a (-1-) A Writ of Mandamus compelling Gov. Jeb Bush to enforce the State Constitution's prohibition of "cruel and unusual punishment" and guarantee of general life and liberties and (-2-) A "Writ of Prohibition" to disqualify a trial court judge in an appeal case #2D03-4621, to the 2nd DCA. However, none have apparently sought enforcement of specific laws (mercy-killing), such as my court briefs, and I have not heard of *any* other lawyers asking for Quo Warranto, Habeas Corpus. All others have just blown off steam about "mercy-killing" and not actually pursued these avenues, but the negligence of these fine lawyers - or any criticism they might have - does not invalidate my pleadings.

Three (3) Quotes from me: "What good does it do the Fla Legislature to write new law - Terri's Law - if they can't even get police to enforce current euthanasia and mercy killing laws?"

"Although I might get a chilly response from some people trying to fight for "Terri's Law," because of perceptions that my Habeas pleadings might 'rock the boat,' it is of no import to me: The current law needs to be enforced, and then we can talk about defending the newly crafted "Terri's Law," but nonetheless, I still think that it is not unconstitutional, as I outline in my Amicus Brief, supporting Jeb Bush, all of six pages long, brief and to-the-point, covering all the major constitutional issues."

"We may have disagreements, about how to get the job done, and I may think that some lawyers have missed a few things, but we all make mistakes, and so we must use a team effort to be successful and get along: I wish all the success to the other lawyers and friends trying to help Terri Schiavo and others like her. And, I wish one and all Happy Holidays this 2003 Winter Season!"

Thank you for your feedback and for covering the news.

Sincerely,

Gordon Wayne Watts
Gordon W. Watts

* All my contact data is in the Certificates of Service in the Court Briefs, both posted on my web sites and filed with the respective courts, but if you need to call me, for any reason, I am at (863) 688-9880, (863) 687-6141, and (863) 686-3411 ; E-Mail=Gww1210@aol.com.