Florida State Attorney Suspended by DeSantis Petitions to get Job Back

Florida State Attorney Monique Worrell, who was suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, last month for what he called "neglect of duty and incompetence," is asking for her position to be restored.

DeSantis, who has suspended a number of prosecutors during his time as governor, targeted Worrell claiming she failed to "faithfully prosecute crime." He accused her of avoiding minimum mandatory sentences for drug trafficking offenses and gun-related crimes.

However, Worrell argues that the governor's claims are not substantial enough and her attorneys say she is an independently elected official. She says DeSantis is using her cases as political ploys to suspend her.

"Instead, the order vaguely refers to Ms. Worrell’s 'practices and policies' throughout but notably fails to identify a single, specific policy or practice, making the order distinguishable from recent cases involving other Florida state attorneys, where the executive orders identified specific policies alleged to constitute a neglect of duty," the document filed by Worrell reads.

Worrell's lawyers say the Florida Constitution requires specific facts for a suspension order.

Worrell, who was elected as a state attorney in 2020, is also requesting back pay for the time she missed working.