ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Usmierer is deploying statewide prosecutors to support the litigation backlog in the 9th Judicial Circuit in response to a request for assistance from state attorney Monique Worrell.
The 9th Circuit, which includes Orange and Osceola Counties, currently faces around 13,500 backlogs. In response, Worrell recently announced that her office will restrict the consumption of non-arrest cases, including some, including firearms and violent felony.
Uthmeier criticized policy change and called it a “soft crime” approach. “There is no excuse for nonprojective policies that allow dangerous criminals to be free. The people of Orlando are worth better,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
The Attorney General’s Office will send prosecutors from all over the state to deal with the backlog. Uthmeier said the prosecutors are ready to work long hours if necessary. “This is everything about public service: do the right thing and it brings justice to the right place,” he said.
Worrell’s office had not publicly commented on Uthmeier’s announcement as of Tuesday.
The next prosecutor from the statewide prosecutor’s office will assist the state attorney’s office in the 9th Judicial Circuit.
Joni Gerrity Lauryn Day Jean Almonacy Rebecca Addison Rebecca Smith-Hameroff Taylor Chat
