DeSantis selects Andrew Bain to replace State Attorney Monique Worrell

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Andrew Bain to replace State Attorney Monique Worrell from the ninth Judicial Circuit, following her immediate suspension.

DeSantis announced the suspension of Worrell and the appointment of Bain Wednesday.

“I’m appointing Judge Andrew Bain to take over as state attorney for the ninth judicial circuit,” DeSantis said.

The governor’s office said that the main factors that played into the suspension included Worrell avoiding minimum mandatory sentencing for gun crimes and drug trafficking offenses, while limiting charges for child pornography and ignoring “valid and applicable” sentencing enhancements.

“It is my duty as Governor to ensure that the laws enacted by our duly elected Legislature are followed,” DeSantis said.

“The people of Central Florida deserve to have a State Attorney who will seek justice in accordance with the law instead of allowing violent criminals to roam the streets and find new victims.”

In 2020, DeSantis appointed Bain as judge to the Orange County Bench of the ninth judicial circuit, filling the spot of Judge Nancy Clark who retired during that time, according to the governor’s office. He was then reelected in 2022.

Prior to his 2020 appointment, Bain served as an assistant state attorney in the Ninth Circuit since 2013.

Bain explained that some of his top priorities as state attorney include restoring order, faith in the law, and the relationships with his fellow justice partners and law enforcement.

​​“We are here to prosecute crimes and to hold people accountable,” he said. “My plan is to bring back that simple understanding.”

During a 2020 interview with Senior Judge Donald A. Myers on “Open Ninth Conversations Beyond the Courtroom,” Bain described some of his background including where he is from and went to school and his time in the NFL prior to his pursuit of law.

Bain is from Lauderdale Lakes in Broward County. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology and business law from the University of Miami and his law degree from Florida A&M University College of Law.

Bain played football through high school and during college. Following graduating from the University of Miami, Bain said he signed a contract and played for the New York Giants as a free agent prior to attending law school.

Myers asked Bain what led him to want to be a judge during his time as a prosecutor and in law school.

“Like anything else in my life, once I have something in my heart, in my mind, and something that I feel that God’s pushing me towards, I’m not going to not do my part. I’m not going to wait,” Bain said during the 2020 interview.

Following Worrell’s suspension, she provided statements at a press conference and referred to DeSantis as a “dictator.”

“Three years ago, I was elected by the people of the ninth Judicial Circuit to to lead this circuit,” she said. “And yes, to do things unconventionally. To do things differently.”

“This is simply a smokescreen for DeSantis’ failing and disastrous presidential campaign,” she continued. “He needed to get back in the media in some positive way that would be red meat for his base.”

Worrell reassured the residents of the Ninth Judicial District that she is planning to take legal action and even run again for the elected position, if needed.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said Worrell was “abdicating her responsibility” as the circuit’s top prosecutor and that in-turn, undermining the state’s law and legal system.

“Ms. Worrell, the state attorney in the ninth circuit has dismissed more charges of defense than any other state attorney in the state of Florida during the same period,” she stated.

“From January 2021 through June of 2022, the latest publicly available data on the state court administrator’s website, Ms. Worrell dismissed or did not prosecute criminal cases against 16,236 adult defendants.”

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., shared on social media that DeSantis’ decision was the “right move.”

“Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies are eroding our communities and families’ ability to feel safe,” he said.

Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., took to X as he attacked the governor’s decision for removing Worrell.

“WE WILL NOT stand for this blatant abuse of power and fascism in our state,” he exclaimed. “It’s a sad day in Orange Country & Florida.”