The only reason why I think the judge would have sided with the husband is because he was the husband. He thought the same as a lot of you seem to think, that the parents have no say in their daughter's life because she was married. Well, I don't believe that. They will always be her parents, regardless of whether or not she is married, and I would trust their unconditional love over a man who was cheating on her.
1) He wasn't cheating on her.
2) Other people she knew confirmed that she wouldn't want to be kept alive under such circumstances.
3) Such decisions are given to spouses for a reason.
Terri's own family encouraged him to start dating and to move on with his life.
So WHAT? Is he a little baby incapable of keeping his own vows. Okay, I'm going to tell you to go cheat on your wife now. It's okay.
His wife was dead for all intent and purposes. Her family had even accepted that and wanted him to get on with his life.
Oh sweet Lord. Her family never accepted that she was dead. Ever. They fought valiantly till the end.
Michael was content to keep Terri alive until he got the settlement money from the malpractice suit.
And then lo and behold out of the blue old murdering Mikey started saying that Terri told him she never wanted to be kept alive by artificial means.
BUT ONLY after he got the $$$$$$$$$$$$ from the lawsuit.