In August 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a suspension order against Andrew Warren, State Attorney of the 13th Judicial Circuit, citing Warren's refusal to uphold Florida law.
The Governor's Executive Order of Suspension highlighted that Warren, who is backed by George Soros, had made statements and signed pledges that suggested he believed he had the authority to defy the Florida Legislature and nullify criminal laws he disagreed with in his jurisdiction.
Warren responded to this action by challenging DeSantis in court. The court rulings thus far have been a mixed bag for Warren. Despite hinting at a re-election campaign in October, Warren announced on Monday via a Twitter video that he had decided against it, fearing another suspension from DeSantis.
I have been planning to run for re-election since the day I was suspended, but the governor has made clear that he does not care about the will of the voters or our democracy, and that he is willing to break state and federal law to keep me from serving as state attorney, Warren stated. He further expressed his concern for the State Attorneys Office and the community, stating that he did not want the "cloud of uncertainty" hanging over them.
Warren also claimed that if he ran and won, DeSantis could suspend him again for any reason he deemed fit. He added, "And then we would be right back where we are today, with an illegal, unqualified political appointee installed in the job."
In January 2023, a District Court judge ruled that the suspension violated both the Florida and U.S. Constitutions. However, the judge stated that the District Court did not have the authority to restore him to office. Warren appealed this decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
In June, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Warren had "waited too long" to bring his reinstatement case before the court. Despite these rulings, Governor DeSantis has consistently maintained that he possesses the authority under the Florida Constitution to suspend state officials for reasons including misfeasance, malfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent inability to perform official duties, or commission of a felony.
Warren is not the only State Attorney to face suspension from DeSantis. In August 2023, Monique Worrell from the 9th Judicial Circuit of Florida was suspended on similar grounds. Worrell is also appealing her suspension and issued her own statement of defiance on Twitter on Monday.
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