INSIDER
‘The people stood up:’ Reflecting on victory, Monique Worrell plans for a complex transition
Read full article: ‘The people stood up:’ Reflecting on victory, Monique Worrell plans for a complex transitionOn Election Day, Monique Worrell found herself immersed in a familiar routine: greeting voters, waving signs, and driving to polling stations.
Monique Worrell wins job back, defeats Andrew Bain for Ninth Circuit State Attorney
Read full article: Monique Worrell wins job back, defeats Andrew Bain for Ninth Circuit State AttorneyAfter being suspended last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis on accusations of “neglect” and “incompetence,” former Ninth Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell won her job back after defeating incumbent Andrew Bain.
Meet the candidates for Florida Ninth Circuit state attorney in the November election
Read full article: Meet the candidates for Florida Ninth Circuit state attorney in the November electionAfter being suspended last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis on accusations of “neglect” and “incompetence,” former Ninth Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell is now fighting to take back her old position from incumbent Andrew Bain.
Suspended prosecutor Monique Worrell backed by lawmakers, ex-justices
Read full article: Suspended prosecutor Monique Worrell backed by lawmakers, ex-justicesCurrent and former Democratic lawmakers and former Florida Supreme Court justices have signed onto legal briefs backing suspended Orlando-area State Attorney Monique Worrell’s bid to get her job back.
Suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell files complaint against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Read full article: Suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell files complaint against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisMonique Worrell, the Orange-Osceola state attorney who was suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis last month, is asking the Florida Supreme Court to declare DeSantis’ order invalid, calling the suspension an “arbitrary, unsubstantiated exercise of the suspension power.”
Proud Boy on house arrest in Jan. 6 case disappears ahead of sentencing
Read full article: Proud Boy on house arrest in Jan. 6 case disappears ahead of sentencingAuthorities are searching for a member of the Proud Boys extremist group who disappeared days before his sentencing in a U.S. Capitol riot case, where prosecutors are seeking more than a decade in prison.
Deputies investigating after woman said she was ‘held against her will’ in Orange County
Read full article: Deputies investigating after woman said she was ‘held against her will’ in Orange CountyThe Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a woman said she was held against her will on Saturday afternoon.
Could Monique Worrell be reinstated as Florida state attorney? Not likely, says political expert
Read full article: Could Monique Worrell be reinstated as Florida state attorney? Not likely, says political expertState Attorney Monique Worrell is far from the first elected official that Governor Ron Desantis, and previous governors, have removed from office.
Who is Monique Worrell, the Florida state attorney DeSantis suspended?
Read full article: Who is Monique Worrell, the Florida state attorney DeSantis suspended?Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Ninth Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell Wednesday, the culmination of months of back-and-forth between DeSantis and Worrell over her approach to the office of chief prosecutor.
‘Weak dictator:’ Monique Worrell calls out DeSantis after suspension, vows re-election bid
Read full article: ‘Weak dictator:’ Monique Worrell calls out DeSantis after suspension, vows re-election bidMonique Worrell held a news conference Wednesday morning outside of the Orange County Courthouse to address Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ announcement of her suspension as Orange-Osceola State Attorney hours prior, saying it would not dissuade her from seeking re-election.
Florida Gov. DeSantis suspends another Democratic prosecutor as he seeks GOP presidential nomination
Read full article: Florida Gov. DeSantis suspends another Democratic prosecutor as he seeks GOP presidential nominationFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended the top prosecutor in Orlando, again wielding his executive power over local government in taking on a contentious issue in the 2024 presidential race.
Gov. DeSantis announces suspension of Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis announces suspension of Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique WorrellFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday morning announced the suspension of Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, effective immediately.
Monique Worrell accuses DeSantis of pursuing ‘witch hunt’ in records search
Read full article: Monique Worrell accuses DeSantis of pursuing ‘witch hunt’ in records searchOrange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell issued a statement accusing Gov. Ron DeSantis of pursuing a “witch hunt” after receiving a request from a state committeewoman for information on two human trafficking cases.
State Attorney Worrell seeks new fingerprint exams in Tommy Zeigler case
Read full article: State Attorney Worrell seeks new fingerprint exams in Tommy Zeigler caseOrange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell is seeking to examine decades-old fingerprint evidence in the case of Tommy Zeigler, a Winter Garden man who’s been on Florida’s Death Row since a judge sentenced him for the 1975 quadruple murder of his wife, in-laws, and a customer inside his family’s furniture store.
‘Facts matter:’ Monique Worrell provides update on Osceola County drug trafficking cases
Read full article: ‘Facts matter:’ Monique Worrell provides update on Osceola County drug trafficking casesOrange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell spoke about drug trafficking Monday after Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez called out the state for its lack of prosecution of these cases last week.
Amid public feud, Worrell, Mina debate youth violence solutions at Orlando lunch
Read full article: Amid public feud, Worrell, Mina debate youth violence solutions at Orlando lunchA discussion about violence among teenagers took place Monday amid a recent spate of gun violence, a string of deadly shootings in Pine Hills and an onoing public feud between two of Orange County’s top criminal justice officials.
Florida State Attorney Worrell defends prosecutions amid public criticisms
Read full article: Florida State Attorney Worrell defends prosecutions amid public criticismsFollowing a shooting rampage that left three people dead in Pine Hills in February, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Orange County Sheriff John Mina and Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez have spoken out against Worrell.
‘Build better cases:’ No evidence to convict teen arrested in fatal shooting outside Jones High School, Worrell says
Read full article: ‘Build better cases:’ No evidence to convict teen arrested in fatal shooting outside Jones High School, Worrell saysWitness gave disjointed testimony, couldn’t ID subject in photo lineup, state attorney says
Viewing held for 9-year-old victim of Pine Hills slayings
Read full article: Viewing held for 9-year-old victim of Pine Hills slayingsFinal goodbyes begin Friday for 9-year-old T’Yonna Major, the youngest victim of a deadly shooting spree last month in Pine Hills that took three lives and inflamed a war of words between the region’s state attorney and Florida’s governor.
Here are the charges to be filed against 19-year-old accused in deadly Pine Hills shootings
Read full article: Here are the charges to be filed against 19-year-old accused in deadly Pine Hills shootingsOrange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell announced the charges being filed against the 19-year-old man accused of killing three people — a 38-year-old woman, a 9-year-old girl and a Spectrum News 13 reporter — and wounding two others in Pine Hills.
War of words escalates as DeSantis demands records from Worrell in Pine Hills slayings
Read full article: War of words escalates as DeSantis demands records from Worrell in Pine Hills slayingsIn an escalation of rhetoric between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, the governor’s office on Tuesday demanded the criminal records of Keith Moses, the suspect in last week’s string of shootings in the Pine Hills area that resulted in three deaths.
State Attorney Worrell wants juvenile justice changes after Orlando shootings
Read full article: State Attorney Worrell wants juvenile justice changes after Orlando shootingsLast week, Monique Worrell, state attorney for Orange and Osceola counties, laid the blame on a juvenile justice system not designed to handle a juvenile like Moses, and called on state legislators to make changes.
Orange-Osceola state attorney discusses attacks against law enforcement, gun violence
Read full article: Orange-Osceola state attorney discusses attacks against law enforcement, gun violenceOrange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell announced Thursday her office was exploring “initiatives across the country” to help combat local and national attacks against law enforcement and gun violence.
Busted drug-trafficking ring was being operated out of Orange County Jail, officials say
Read full article: Busted drug-trafficking ring was being operated out of Orange County Jail, officials say“Operation Icarus" identified a group responsible for trafficking cocaine and thousands of fentanyl pills throughout Central Florida.
Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell launches Adult Civil Citation Program
Read full article: Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell launches Adult Civil Citation ProgramMonique Worrell, state attorney for Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit of Orange and Osceola counties, launched the circuit’s first-ever Adult Civil Citation Program on Friday.
‘Great Resignation’ hits Florida state attorneys, public defenders offices
Read full article: ‘Great Resignation’ hits Florida state attorneys, public defenders officesThe Orange-Osceola state attorney says the Great Resignation has hit her office. Monique Worrell says she is facing double-digit job vacancies from attorneys down to support staff.
Orange-Osceola state attorney’s mental health initiatives aim to improve community
Read full article: Orange-Osceola state attorney’s mental health initiatives aim to improve communityThe new unit Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell ushered in last year to address mental health in the criminal justice system is still going strong.
State Attorney announces new unit to fight opioid epidemic in Central Florida
Read full article: State Attorney announces new unit to fight opioid epidemic in Central FloridaThe State Attorney's Office in Orange and Osceola Counties is announcing the formation of a narcotics unit to fight the opioid epidemic.
Orlando chief highlights problem of repeat offenders after brick attack, ambush on officers
Read full article: Orlando chief highlights problem of repeat offenders after brick attack, ambush on officersAfter two recent attacks on police officers, Orlando's police chief is bringing attention to an issue of keeping repeat criminal offenders off the streets.
Prosecutor grants DNA testing in death row case involving 2 Orlando murders
Read full article: Prosecutor grants DNA testing in death row case involving 2 Orlando murdersFor the second time in recent weeks, a Florida prosecutor is granting DNA testing for a death row inmate who has maintained his innocence for more than four decades.
Orange-Osceola state attorney creates new policy for officer-involved shooting review
Read full article: Orange-Osceola state attorney creates new policy for officer-involved shooting reviewProsecutors with the State Attorney’s Office in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, covering Orange and Osceola counties, will independently investigate police officer or deputy-involved shootings in addition to the review conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
State attorney changes incarceration policy due to Orange County jail’s COVID-19 outbreak
Read full article: State attorney changes incarceration policy due to Orange County jail’s COVID-19 outbreakORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell is changing her office’s policy on seeking incarceration for defendants in response to the COVID-19 outbreak at the Orange County jail. The policy comes after an outbreak of virus cases at the Orange County Jail where 83 inmates contracted the virus, according to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. The statement echos Dr. Raul Pino from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, who referred to jails as a “petri dish” during a news conference last week. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the jail has about 2,600 inmates housed there. Ad“What we don’t want is people sitting in custody pre trial, because they cant afford to get out of jail,” Worrell said.
Outgoing state attorney drops death penalty in 3 high profile cases
Read full article: Outgoing state attorney drops death penalty in 3 high profile casesORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Monique Worrell was sworn in as the new state attorney for Orange County and Osceola County. Monday night, the outgoing state attorney, Aramis Ayala, decided to drop the death penalty against four defendants in three high profile cases. It was one of the last moves Ayala made while still in office--filing notices that her office would not seek the death penalty against four defendants in three high profile cases, after initially seeking death. “I don’t want my term to be defined by what we do or don’t do with regard to the death penalty,” Worrell said. “That is a very small percentage of what a state attorney does,” she said.
Monique Worrell begins work as state attorney-elect
Read full article: Monique Worrell begins work as state attorney-electMonique Worrell, who is Florida’s second Black state attorney, is preparing to take office in Orange and Osceola counties after winning the general election. [TRENDING: How to get vaccine in Florida | Will vaccine work on new strains? “I am the state attorney elect,” Worrell said. She’s actually already working in the 9th circuit State Attorney’s Office assisting in the Conviction Integrity Unit which she helped start. “I will have the benefit of a lot of advice for her on things that work well and things that don’t work well,” Worrell said.
Orange-Osceola State Attorney candidate Monique Worrell wants to change the culture of prosecution
Read full article: Orange-Osceola State Attorney candidate Monique Worrell wants to change the culture of prosecutionMonique Worrell beat out three democratic candidates to win the Aug. 18 primary election for state attorney in what was considered a crowded field with 42% of the vote. Asked if that handed her the primary election win, she said the momentum began well before those commercials aired. “I was sworn in as an Assistant State Attorney. I carried a badge in the same way that all other Assistant State Attorney’s did.”AdWorrell also had the endorsement of the current 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala. After the primary election Ayala eliminated the position of Chief Assistant State Attorney which Barra held.
Singer John Legend endorses Orange-Osceola State Attorney candidate Monique Worrell
Read full article: Singer John Legend endorses Orange-Osceola State Attorney candidate Monique WorrellORLANDO, Fla. – Grammy-Award winning singer and songwriter John Legend is paying attention to Florida politics, specifically several upcoming elections for local state attorney seats. The current Orlando-area state attorney Aramis Ayala said last year she would not be seeking re-election. Worrell, former chief judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Belvin Perry; current assistant state attorney in Orange-Osceola Deborah Barra and Ryan Williams, a longtime assistant state attorney in Florida’s 9th and 5th Judicial Circuits, have all announced they are running. Worrell, a criminal justice attorney, faces the three other candidates in the Aug. 18 Democratic primary. The goal of the political group is to “elect prosecutors who will fix our broken criminal justice system,” according to its website.
Downtown Orlando bartender excited to welcome regualrs, staff following pandemic and protest curfews
Read full article: Downtown Orlando bartender excited to welcome regualrs, staff following pandemic and protest curfewsORANGE COUNTY, Fla. On Monday night, bars in downtown Orlando were allowed to be open longer than they have since the middle of March 2020. Mayor Buddy Dyer lifted a curfew for the downtown area of Orlando, that has been set at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on selective days since last week. Over at the Embassy Irish Bar in downtown Orlando, bartender Michelle Worrell told News 6 that she is excited to make changes to their employee schedule since more people will be able to get back to work. We are just excited that the curfew has been lifted and its back to normal hours," said Worrell. Another bar owner told News 6 that Monday nights are typically slow in downtown, with some bars not open during normal schedules.