Gray Rohrer
Looking to salvage the last year of his term in office as Hillsborough County State Attorney, Democrat Andrew Warren is asking the federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to expedite his case.
“Time is of the essence in resolving this dispute,” Warren’s lawyers wrote in the filing.
“As a result of Governor Ron DeSantis’s illegal suspension of Mr. Warren, the voters of Hillsborough County have been deprived of the official whom they selected as State Attorney. An election involving millions of Floridians has been nullified. Mr. Warren, meanwhile, has been unable to serve in his post. One year remains in Mr. Warren’s term, and it should not be consumed by unnecessary delays in legal proceedings.”
Warren was elected as State Attorney in 2016 and re-elected in 2020.
Last week a three-judge panel ruled that a lower court erred in finding the federal courts had no authority to reinstate Warren, even though the lower court found DeSantis’ violated Warren’s First Amendment rights when he suspended him in August 2022. DeSantis made that move because, among other reasons, Warren signed a pledge not to enforce abortion-related crimes in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
DeSantis replaced Warren with Suzy Lopez, who has been serving in his stead ever since.
The appellate court decision sent the case back to a lower court in Tallahassee. DeSantis could appeal the ruling by requesting a review by the entire 11th Circuit, not just the three judges who ruled last week.
The filing asks the court to cut in half the typical deadline of 14 days for DeSantis to respond to the ruling, instead asking it to mandate a deadline of Wednesday, Jan. 17. The appellate court agreed.
The day before the Jan. 10 ruling from the appeals court, Warren declared he wouldn’t seek re-election to the State Attorney position, reasoning that DeSantis could simply suspend him again if he won. But now he’s arguing that his reinstatement could affect the election.
“The urgency is all the greater now because resolution of this case will also impact the next election for State Attorney later this year,” the filing states.
DeSantis hasn’t publicly responded to the ruling.
12 comments
Larry Gillis, Libertarian
January 16, 2024 at 9:37 am
“Cafeteria Prosecutors” are not what we need. Just enforce the bleepin’ law.
James Wilson
January 16, 2024 at 4:58 pm
What is a “cafeteria prosecutor “? Say, like prosecuting Hunter Biden for not showing up when subpoenaed, but refusing to prosecute Jim Jordan, Mark Meadows, Andy Biggs, Scott Perry, Mo Brooks, and Kevin McCarthy, all of whom failed to appear when subpoenaed?
Dont Say FLA
January 16, 2024 at 11:54 am
Ron DeSantis, Yarvard and Hale Law Guy, but he keeps losing legal cases responding to his actions, and he keeps having legislation overturned. Why?
Either Yarvard and Hale Law is a worthless degree, or Rhonda is willfully abusing the legal system and Florida state legislature for some purpose that is out of range of their Gubernatorial duties.
Could all Ron’s legal squabbles and unconstitutional legislating just be a big ole’ put-on for campaign purposes? You betcha! YEP
Cheesy Floridian
January 17, 2024 at 12:41 pm
That is what the 3 panel judge ruling said.
PeterH
January 16, 2024 at 5:18 pm
Andrew Warren for Governor!
Cogent Observer
January 17, 2024 at 7:57 am
Alternatively, Warren could get off of the public dole. If he is competent, he is free to open his own office and represent whomever he wishes. Then, he can take cases in which he “believes.” Until then, Andy, do the bidding of the people who pay you. We really don’t care about what you think.
Cheesy Floridian
January 17, 2024 at 11:49 am
He never said he wouldn’t inforce the laws. He signed the statement as a private citizen. Please read the 59 page ruling and look at the facts of the case.
Cogent Observer
January 17, 2024 at 12:08 pm
1. The word is “enforce,” not “inforce.”
2. The article reads: “Warren signed a pledge not to enforce abortion-related crimes in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.”
3. Read the article that you are addressing. Word-by-word. Slowly. Carefully.
4. Andy stated what he would/would not do in his capacity as a prosecutor. He was, therefore acting in his official capacity. Such would be the case regardless of where he stood on the issue.
Cheesy Floridian
January 17, 2024 at 12:40 pm
Nope you are wrong.
Cheesy Floridian
January 17, 2024 at 12:47 pm
If you look at the ruling and the facts of the case he said that he would look at every case and the facts of each case and see if he is able to move forward. he did not issue a blanket policy of “no prosecuting abortion crimes in tampa.” which is what desantis said he was doing.
KathrynA
January 17, 2024 at 9:29 am
Warren was duly elected and did not do a thing wrong, but had been an effective state attorney. The courts have concurred and he should be placed back in his elected position. Maybe instead of removing people who are doing the job people elected him to; DeSantis should remove Ms. Ziegler from the Sarasota School Board, where there is much agreement from the board itself and the constituents that she needs to be replaced. There is certainly enough reason there for DeSantis to remove her.
Cheesy Floridian
January 17, 2024 at 11:49 am
Can you say that louder for the people who are so far up DeSantis butthole that they can’t hear the truth?
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