The ruling by U.S. District Judge James Whittemore comes after feverish action by President Bush and Congress on legislation allowing her contentious case to be reviewed by federal courts. The judge said the 41-year-old woman's parents had not established a ``substantial likelihood of success'' at trial on the merits of their arguments.

Rex Sparklin, an attorney with the law firm representing Terri Schiavo's parents, said lawyers were immediately appealing the decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

Bobby Schindler, Terri Schiavo's brother, said his family was crushed by the decision.

``To have to see my parents go through this is absolutely barbaric,'' Bobby Schindler told ABC's ``Good Morning America'' on Tuesday. ``I'd love for these judges to sit in a room and see this happening as well.''

Reaction from the handful of protesters outside the woman's hospice early Tuesday came quickly.

``It's terrible. They're going to talk and talk and she's going to die,'' said Miriam Zlotolow, 59, of Venice, Calif.

Gov. Jeb Bush was described by a spokeswoman as ``extremely disappointed and saddened'' over the judge's decision not to order the reconnection of the feeding tube. Efforts were expected accelerate in Tallahassee to find a way to make that happen during state House and Senate proceedings there Tuesday.

``Governor Bush will continue to do what he legally can withn his powers to protect Terri Shiavo, a vulnerable person,'' said the spokeswoman, Alia Faraj.

Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, praised the ruling.

``What this judge did is protect the freedom of people to make their own end-of-life decisions without the intrusion of politicians,'' Simon said.

The tube was disconnected Friday on the orders of a state judge, prompting an extraordinary weekend effort by congressional Republicans to push through unprecedented emergency legislation early Monday aimed at keeping her alive. Doctors have said Schiavo could survive one to two weeks without the feeding tube.

Schiavo did not have a living will. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, has fought in courts for years to have the tube removed because he said she would not want to be kept alive artificially and she has no hope for recovery. Her parents contend she responds to them and her condition could improve.

David Gibbs III, the parents' attorney, argued at a Monday hearing said that forcing Schiavo to starve would be ``a mortal sin'' under her Roman Catholic beliefs and urged quick action: ``Terri may die as I speak.''

But George Felos, an attorney for husband Michael Schiavo, argued that keeping the 41-year-old woman alive also violated her rights and noted that the case has been aired thoroughly in state courts.

``Yes, life is sacred,'' Felos said, contending that restarting artificial feedings would be against Schiavo's wishes. ``So is liberty, particularly in this country.''

``Every possible issue has been raised and re-raised, litigated and re-litigated,'' Felos added. ``It's the elongation of these proceedings that have violated Mrs. Schiavo's due process rights.''

In the ruling, Whittemore said there were issues concerning the constitutionality of the new law, but he presumed the act to be constitutional for the basis of the request for an injunction that would have ordered the feeding tube reconnected.

Whittemore wrote that Terri Schiavo's ``life and liberty interests'' were protected by the process of the Florida courts.

``Even under these difficult and time strained circumstances, however, and notwithstanding Congress' expressed interest in the welfare of Theresa Schiavo, this court is constrained to apply the law to the issues before it,'' the ruling reads.

Monday's courtroom showdown followed an extraordinary political fight over the weekend. Congress passed a law that let Schiavo's parents argue their case before a federal court, bringing the intense legal battle to Whittemore's Tampa courtroom.

Longtime colleagues describe Whittemore, 52, as thoughtful, fair and down-to- earth, not the least flamboyant. ``He will call it as he sees it. You could not ask for a better or fairer referee,'' said Tampa lawyer John Fitzgibbons.

Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed Friday, the third such time it has been disconnected. Both times previously the tube was re-inserted, once ordered by a judge, once by Bush on a special state law later thrown out by the courts.

Michael Schiavo contends he is carrying out his wife's wishes not to be kept alive artificially. He said he was outraged that lawmakers and the president were intervening in a private matter.

``There is no happy ending,'' Michael Schiavo said on CNN's ``Larry King Live'' late Monday. ``When Terri's wishes are carried out, it will be her wish. She will be at peace. She will be with the Lord.''

Terri Schiavo suffered brain damage in 1990 when her heart stopped briefly because of a possible potassium imbalance brought on by an eating disorder. She can breathe on her own, but has relied on the feeding tube to keep her alive.

Court-appointed doctors say she is in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of recovery, while her parents insist she could recover with treatment.