After being replaced, former Ninth Judicial Circuit state attorney Monique Worrell vowed not to be bullied by Gov. Ron DeSantis or used as a tool but stopped short of announcing a lawsuit.
“I am the duly elected state attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and nothing done by a weak dictator can change that,” she said. “This is an outrage.”
DeSantis appointed Andrew Bain as the new state attorney on Aug. 9. The Ninth Judicial Circuit encompasses Orange and Osceola counties.
Worrell
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“Three years ago, I was elected by the people of the Ninth Judicial Circuit to lead this circuit, and yes, to do things unconventionally and to do things differently but I didn't hide,” Worrell said. “I didn't say that I would do things and then didn't do them. I didn't say I wouldn't do things and not did them. I did exactly what I said I would do, and that is what you want from an elected official.”
Although the elected state attorney is unimpeachable, DeSantis unseated Worrell using his authority under Article IV, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution because she allegedly neglected her duty to prosecute crime in her jurisdiction.
The Caribbean American was elected to the position after receiving support from U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Bernie Sanders. She assumed office on Jan. 5, 2021.
Before suspending Worrell, DeSantis issued a scathing executive order listing the reasons why she was ousted.
“Worrell has authorized or allowed practices or policies that have systematically permitted violent offenders, drug traffickers, serious-juvenile offenders, and pedophiles to evade incarceration, when otherwise warranted under Florida law,” the Aug. 9 order states. “These practices or policies include non-filing or dropping meritorious charges or declining to allege otherwise provable facts to avoid triggering applicable lengthy sentences, minimum mandatory sentences, or other sentencing enhancements, especially for offenders under the age of 25, except in the most extreme cases.”
Worrell is the second Democrat state attorney that DeSantis has removed from elected office.
As previously reported in the Florida Record, Tampa prosecutor Andrew Warren had been the state attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough until last year when DeSantis suspended him from the position alleging he incompetent and neglectful of his duties.
Warren sued in federal court and filed an emergency writ with the Florida Supreme Court.
U.S. District Judge for the Northern District Robert Hinkle cited the U.S. Constitution's 11th Amendment when he dismissed Warren's legal action stating that he lacked the authority to reinstate Warren.