The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments on Dec. 6 in a challenge by suspended Orlando-area State Attorney Monique Worrell to her ouster by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The court issued an order Tuesday scheduling the arguments. Worrell filed the case last month, arguing DeSantis had no legal basis to suspend her as the elected state attorney in the 9th Judicial Circuit in Orange and Osceola counties.
She disputed a series of arguments raised in DeSantis’ Aug. 9 executive order, which, among other things, said Worrell “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.”
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The case filed at the Supreme Court said DeSantis’ executive order “fails to allege any facts relating to Ms. Worrell’s own conduct (either acts or omissions) that would constitute neglect of duty or incompetence.”
The Florida Constitution gives the governor the authority to suspend elected officials.
The ultimate decision about removal from office rests with the Florida Senate, though the Senate has put the Worrell issue on hold because of the court challenge.
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