Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis Wednesday morning suspended a Black Democratic State Attorney and replaced them with an appointee of his own choosing.DeSantis, who is also running for president, says he is suspending Florida State Attorney Monique Worrell "for neglecting her duty to faithfu...
The Florida constitution allows a governor to remove an elected official for “malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, habitual drunkenness, incompetence, or permanent inability to perform official duties.” No previous Florida executive has interpreted that power as broadly as DeSantis. The state Senate can reinstate Worrell, but the chamber is controlled by Republicans closely aligned with DeSantis and have rarely stood in his way.
Warren’s attempts at reinstatement have failed. A federal judge ruled DeSantis had acted unconstitutionally in suspending Warren, writing that there was “not a hint of misconduct by Mr. Warren” in the trial record, but he ultimately dismissed the case saying he did not have the power to intervene on a state matter. The state Supreme Court tossed Warren’s lawsuit in state court earlier this summer.
Monique Worrell was the attorney recently dismissed and Andrew Warren is the one who was dismissed last year.
Things like this always make me wonder if a state could legally turn into a dictatorship.
Could Florida legally change it’s constitution to say “All governing power rests entirely in Ron DeSantis” and dissolve it’s representative bodies? Obviously it would still be beholden to voters for national elections (representatives and senators), but statewide there could be nothing.
From a CNN article:
Monique Worrell was the attorney recently dismissed and Andrew Warren is the one who was dismissed last year.
Things like this always make me wonder if a state could legally turn into a dictatorship.
Could Florida legally change it’s constitution to say “All governing power rests entirely in Ron DeSantis” and dissolve it’s representative bodies? Obviously it would still be beholden to voters for national elections (representatives and senators), but statewide there could be nothing.