On Thursday, July 11, 2024, Florida Phoenix reported that litigation is ongoing in the cases of suspended state attorneys Andrew Warren and Monique Worrell, who were both aiming to win their jobs back through the legal process and upcoming elections.

Warren, the twice-elected state attorney of Hillsborough County, had been suspended by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in August 2022 due to alleged “neglect of duty” and “incompetence” after signing pledges not to prosecute abortion or transgender-related crimes. Warren challenged the suspension in federal court, where a judge initially ruled that DeSantis had violated Warren’s First Amendment rights by removing him for political reasons. However, an appeals court panel has since ruled that the lower court should reevaluate its decision.

According to attorneys for Warren, the case had been delayed too long at the appeals level without a full panel rehearing the arguments. They filed a brief requesting the Eleventh Circuit expedite the process, arguing that justice was being denied each day the legal dispute prolonged Warren’s unlawful suspension after being duly elected by voters. If it was found that DeSantis removed Warren for his political speech as alleged, his suspension would be invalidated.

In the interim, Warren was running for the Democratic nomination against another candidate. Public campaign filings showed Warren had raised over $240,000 in his regular campaign account, and another $52,000 in a separate political account, while his opponent, Martinez Strauss, has raised $29,975. The winner would go on to face GOP incumbent Suzy Lopez, appointed by DeSantis to replace Warren, in the general election, who has raised $424,340 in her campaign and another $242,000 in her political committee account.

Monique Worrell’s case was also ongoing after being suspended as Orange-Osceola state attorney in a similar fashion last August. A new federal lawsuit had been filed on behalf of two resident voters who supported Worrell and a progressive group, claiming their constitutional rights were violated when DeSantis suspended Worrell without cause after she was elected on promises of reform.

Notably, crime statistics showed violent offenses had decreased by 10% and shootings by 30% under Worrell’s administration prior to her suspension. However, the initial suit was dismissed over lack of standing. An amended complaint was since refiled in late June.

In the interim, the Florida Supreme Court had upheld DeSantis’ decision to suspend Worrell based on the allegations in his executive order. Like Warren, Worrell was running for her old job in the November general election. the Worrell campaign released the results of a new poll. The poll shows Worrell leading incumbent Andrew Bain by a margin of 40% to 28%, with 28% of voters undecided. The survey was conducted by Change Research between June 10 and June 17, and sampled 887 general election voters in Orange and Osceola counties.

Both suspended attorneys continued arguing through the legal and electoral processes that they were unlawfully removed for political motives after winning elections, denying the voters who chose them. Their ongoing challenges sought to not only regain their positions but establish that elected officials cannot be dismissed by governors of another party over policy disagreements.

 

 

Source: Florida Phoenix