Idea to merge Florida judicial circuits draws opposition, gerrymandering claims

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Idea to merge Florida judicial circuits draws opposition, gerrymandering claims

A 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.

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The following is not my post. It's from a post by eng114 on the r/florida subreddit on Reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/florida/comments/15yjclu/its_game_over_if_desantis_takes_over_the_criminal/

It’s game over if Desantis takes over the criminal Justice system. People will be plucked from society faster than books from libraries.

DeSantis and his lackey legislators want to decrease the number of judicial circuits.

What does this mean to the average Floridian? Worst case scenario is that: we go from 20 circuits to 6 with Desantis appointing all of the State Attorneys and Public Defenders (meaning all 20 of each that the people voted in would be gone); you may have to travel several counties away for jury duty; your representatives will likely all be from the biggest city near you and not connected to your community at all; no more drug courts or mental health courts or other forms of diversion (the first thing desantis’ appointed Orlando state attorney did was axe diversion programs and his tampa appointed state attorney Susie López (who is a die hard Desantis loyalist and even named her dog Rhonda Santis) has expressed a distaste for diversion programs); a centralization of power in the hands of a few of Desantis’ hand chosen Christian Nationalists who will undoubtedly use heavy handed approaches to incarceration. Best case scenario, it doesn’t happen to the whole state but just a few counties.

Not a single major player (sheriff, judge, state attorney, or public defender) has expressed an agreement with consolidating judicial circuits. There is no benefit to anyone to consolidate except Desantis who would acquire more control and potentially avoid his embarrassment when the voters re-elect Andrew Warren and Monique Worrell (the elected state attorneys he suspended in violation of the Florida constitution). The voters will definitely re-elect them absent Desantis getting his way and gerrymandering the circuits and the votes.

The increase in the population requires more judicial circuits-not less. But it would be harder for Desantis to micromanage even more players in the criminal Justice system. He and his listless vessel Florida legislators will shove this down your throats. They don’t think you’re smart enough to know that centralizing power is fascism and that a take over of the criminal justice system would be game over. People will vanish from society just like books from libraries - because they don’t conform to what Desantis wants.

Call your legislature. Say no to consolidation. Keep accountability and a check on the power by keeping state attorneys and public defenders local and not subject to the unreasonable and cruel whims of Desantis.

And from enq11 on the same Reddit thread:

It started with a letter from Speaker Renner to the Florida Supreme Court. Under the rules of judicial administration, the Florida sup ct can evaluate judicial circuit territories. Those territories haven’t changed in over 50 years and many systems have evolved in light of those territories. Given the population growth, it’s anti-intuitive to decrease the number of circuits. The Speaker says it could be more efficient and save money. This is hogwash. Not a single person in the system believes that. It would create so much more bureaucracy and really erode the public’s trust in the judiciary .

Upon receipt of the speaker’s letter, The Supreme Court then appointed a task force to evaluate bc that’s what the rules require.

You have to know a little back story. We had 5 appellate districts a couple years ago but they recently added a sixth to balance out the cases amongst the districts. The 20 judicial circuits feed into the 6 appellate districts. Creating the 6th circuit was likely the predecessor action to this circuit consolidation. Additionally, desantis suspended Andrew Warren and Monique worrell (elected state attorneys who were democrats). This was determined to be unconstitutional as to Warren but there was a jurisdictional issue and it’s currently still in court. Both worrell and Warren were elected with a significant majority of the vote. If they run again (which they both plan to do), they will get re-elected. However, if desantis puts manatee, desoto, and Sarasota counties with Hillsborough, Warren will not have a shot bc those other counties are very red. This consolidation concept isn’t about looking for efficiencies or trying to do better for the people, it’s exactly the opposite. It’s taking away local elected officials and making those who are left easier to control.

Here are a few resources:

https://www.flcourts.gov/Administration-Funding/Court-Councils-Commissions-and-Committees/Judicial-Circuit-Assessment-Committee

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/08/04/proposal-to-merge-florida-judicial-circuits-faces-backlash-from-prosecutors-judges/

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2023/08/22/idea-merge-florida-judicial-circuits-draws-opposition-gerrymandering-claims/