STATEWIDE — Orange County Judge Andrew Bain will now be the new state attorney of the 9th Judicial Circuit after Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Monique Worrell on Wednesday morning.
What You Need To Know
- Andrew Bain has been a judge since 2020
- He was formally an assistant state attorney
- RELATED: Gov. DeSantis suspends State Attorney Monique Worrell for 'failing to faithfully prosecute crime'
DeSantis suspended Worrell as state attorney of the 9th Judicial Circuit, which covers Orlando, Kissimmee and the rest of Orange and Osceola counties, from what he said was a “neglect of duty”.
After being appointed as the new state attorney, he has already been busy.
“I’m about to walk into a secure area,” Bain said to Spectrum News during a phone interview before hanging up.
In 2020, DeSantis appointed Bain to the 9th Circuit judgeship. He won re-election in 2022, where his term as judge would have ended in 2029.
Bain previously served as an assistant state attorney in Orlando for the 9th Judicial Circuit from 2013 until 2020. As a trial attorney, he has served more than 40 first-chair bench and jury trials, according to his resume which is posted on his LinkedIn page.
A graduate of Florida A&M University, he earned a doctorate of law in 2013. He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business law from the University of Miami in 2007.
Wednesday’s announcement surprised many who work within the courts and even those who knew him in law school.
Attorney Jonathan Rose worked with Bain, back when he was a prosecutor, mainly on drug cases.
“He was tough, but generally fair and he was certainly knowledgeable,” said Rose.
Rose, who’s been trying cases for 24 years, says State Attorney Worrell operated from a criminal reform position that sometimes rubbed against local law enforcement.
“He’s going to have probably much more cooperation and much better communication with the local law enforcement agencies,” said Rose.
Dr. Jeremy Levitt, distinguished professor of law at Florida A&M University in Orlando mentored Bain while he attended law school.
He believes Bain will have to prove himself in this new position.
“Law enforcement seemed to be moving against Monique Worrell," said Levitt. "I don’t think he will have the same issue. He does have a responsibility. A community that wants to see fair and equitable justice. So, he must balance this out. It’s not an easy position to be in.”
Dr. Jeremy Levitt says he was surprised by the sudden change made by the governor but wishes both Monique Worrell and Andrew Bain the best.
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