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Idea to merge Florida judicial circuits draws opposition, gerrymandering claims
Idea to merge Florida judicial circuits draws opposition, gerrymandering claimsA proposal by a Republican lawmaker to consolidate some judicial circuits in Florida could upend decades-old jurisdiction boundaries across the state — a move that critics say is designed to stack the deck with more conservative prosecutors.
House Speaker Paul Renner in June asked the Florida Supreme Court to consider shrinking the number of circuits, which he said could save money and make the system more efficient. The court appointed a committee to make a recommendation in December. The Legislature, controlled by a Republican supermajority, will then decide.
State Rep. Michele Rayner, a Democrat and attorney whose district includes portions of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, called consolidation “purely politically motivated.”
“This is really more about the governor wanting to ensure that Democratic or progressive prosecutors are not elected,” Rayner said. “We’ve already seen that he has removed Andrew Warren and Monique Worrell, and so I think that this is a bigger play.”
Of Florida’s 20 state attorneys, six were Democrats and 14 were Republicans before Gov. Ron DeSantis removed State Attorney Warren in Hillsborough County last year and Worrell in Orlando on Aug. 9. Both are Democrats, and members of their party fear that shrinking the number of districts will end up in a redrawn map that will further favor Republicans.
House Speaker Paul Renner in June asked the Florida Supreme Court to consider shrinking the number of circuits, which he said could save money and make the system more efficient. The court appointed a committee to make a recommendation in December. The Legislature, controlled by a Republican supermajority, will then decide.
State Rep. Michele Rayner, a Democrat and attorney whose district includes portions of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, called consolidation “purely politically motivated.”
“This is really more about the governor wanting to ensure that Democratic or progressive prosecutors are not elected,” Rayner said. “We’ve already seen that he has removed Andrew Warren and Monique Worrell, and so I think that this is a bigger play.”
Of Florida’s 20 state attorneys, six were Democrats and 14 were Republicans before Gov. Ron DeSantis removed State Attorney Warren in Hillsborough County last year and Worrell in Orlando on Aug. 9. Both are Democrats, and members of their party fear that shrinking the number of districts will end up in a redrawn map that will further favor Republicans.
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