After having had the opportunity to scan the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the Terri Schiavo case, and having read and listened to a variety of sources, I've come to the conclusion that the court is populated by a bunch of teenagers.

Father: "Be home by 11."

Son: "No problem, dad."

Son arrives home at 2 a.m.

Father: "I told you to be home by 11."

Son: "I thought you meant 11 a.m. You didn't say 'p.m.'"

[The next Friday]

Father: "Be home by 11 p.m."

Son: "No problem, dad."

Son arrives home at 3 a.m.

Father: "I told you to be home by 11 p.m."

Son: "You didn't say Friday."

I definitely went into the wrong field, because I was a master of these word games when I was in high school. I could've been a federal judge by the age of 25.

The federal court and the appeals court have both played this game in the Terri Schiavo case. It was clear from the start that the Congress intended the law they passed in a rare weekend session to result in Schiavo's feeding tube to be replaced pending a hearing on the merits of the case -- not the legal procedure.

The trial court, and now the appeals court, play word games and twist the words and clear intent of the Congress in order to avoid taking any action.

The court acts as though all of the opponents of the law, both in government and out, were completely wrong about what the law was supposed to do. The Geroge Felos' of the world were overreacting when the bill was passed. The Rick Santorums who thought they were actually doing something, were profoundly mistaken.

These are supposed to be among the best and brightest of the legal profession?