Ruling in Controversial Cases

Four judges who ruled in controversial cases talked about the pitfalls of presiding over high-profile cases, judicial independence, and how their lives have changed since the rulings. Judges Greer and O’Neill received death threats after ruling in their cases. Topics included public and media reaction as well as blogs. Mr. Liptak moderated the discussion.

Florida Judge George Greer ruled in favor of Terry Schiavo’s husband who sought to end life-support for the brain-damaged Florida woman. Former Texas District Judge Eileen O’Neill in 1993 held the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue and other activists in contempt for violating an order directing them to stop harassing several Houston-area doctors. New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto ruled last year that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights as married couples, but do not have a right to same-sex marriage. Former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso presided over a number of controversial death close