Pro-lifers hear call to overhaul ‘arrogant’ judiciary

Terri Schiavo’s death is expected to have major political ramifications as pro-lifers declare war on the judiciary and galvanize for the coming fight over Supreme Court vacancies.

“We will look at an arrogant, out-of-control, unaccountable judiciary that thumbed their nose at Congress and the president,” said House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Texas Republican. “We will look into that.”

The Rev. Flip Benham, director of Operation Rescue, lamented, “The courts of this land have become the tool, in the hands of the devil, by which the culture of death has found access.”

Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh bluntly blamed the judiciary for “ordering the starvation” of Mrs. Schiavo.

The Florida woman who died yesterday after her feeding tube had been disconnected nearly two weeks earlier has become a martyr for conservatives, who planned to avenge her death by fighting to put pro-life justices on the Supreme Court as soon as vacancies arise. They also vowed to prevent the Schiavo case from becoming any kind of legal precedent.

Democrats were not relishing the prospect of open warfare against an energized, motivated pro-life movement. Yet Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, promised to mount a spirited defense against the conservatives.

“They are seeking to take away the independence of the judiciary — the crown jewel in our system of government — so that they can advance their own ideological agenda of the day,” the Massachusetts Democrat said during a speech in Boston.

“That is exactly the kind of tyranny that our ancestors fought to prevent,” he added. “And I pledge to you, that as long as I have a voice, I will continue to fight it as well.”

President Bush encouraged pro-lifers to redouble their efforts in the wake of Mrs. Schiavo’s death.

“I urge all those who honor Terri Schiavo to continue to work to build a culture of life, where all Americans are welcomed and valued and protected, especially those who live at the mercy of others,” he told reporters in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

“The essence of civilization is that the strong have a duty to protect the weak,” he added. “In cases where there are serious doubts and questions, the presumption should be in the favor of life.”

The president’s brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, said, “I hope that from this, that all of us can grow as people in terms of our appreciation for end-of-life issues.”

Other Republicans have blamed the courts for failing to follow through on Congress’ wishes, and say there is a looming clash between the legislature and the courts.

“This loss happened because our legal system did not protect the people who need protection most, and that will change,” said Mr. DeLay. “The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior, but not today. Today we grieve, we pray and we hope to God this fate never befalls another.”

House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., Wisconsin Republican, said the courts ignored Congress’ intent, encapsulated in a law passed in an overnight session, that Mrs. Schiavo be given “an opportunity for a new, full and fresh review in federal court of her right to receive life-sustaining treatment.”

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