“This is our moment to reclaim our democracy.”
As statements go, this was a bold one.
On Tuesday, Ninth Circuit State Attorney-elect Monique Worrell embarked on an early morning “solidarity walk,” accompanied by her mother, brothers and a crowd of supporters. Bundled against the cold, the group — a mix of attorneys, politicians and voters — made its way down Orange Avenue from Amelia Street to the Orange County Courthouse.
There, on the steps of the State Attorney’s Office, surrounded by local leaders, Worrell took the Oath of Office, administered by State Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis of District 40.
It was a symbolic event, ahead of Worrell’s official swearing in Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 8, at Jones High School in downtown Orlando.
But after Gov. Ron DeSantis ousted Worrell in August 2023 for allegedly being soft on crime — seen by many as a political maneuver while he ran for president — followed by replacement State Attorney Andrew Bain's December suggestion that he would not aid her transition because DeSantis’ removal order had not been rescinded (walked back hours later after public outrage); together with last week's news that Worrell was the target of a Polk County grand jury investigation, which led to concern from the Orange County Legislative Delegation that it another effort to prevent her from assuming office, the ceremony on the first day of the changeover served to show that while Worrell got knocked around hard, she emerged victorious as Orange and Osceola county voters returned her to office again with nearly 58 percent of the vote.
“ Today is about more than reclaiming a position; it is about reclaiming our democracy,” Worrell said from the podium after her symbolic swearing in. “It's about honoring the will of the people and restoring faith in the systems meant to serve us all. Democracy is not passive. It requires engagement, accountability and courage. And on November 5th, this community proved that our collective voice is stronger than any obstacle.
“This moment represents more than a return. It represents a renewal, a renewal of trust, of commitment, and the promise that justice is not simply about punishment, but about prevention, rehabilitation, and creating opportunities for positive change. This office is a responsibility I carry with great pride and deep gratitude … This is our moment to remind ourselves that democracy is not just about elections. It's about the power of people to shape the world that they live in.”
Official Support
Elected officials who braved the cold to attend the ceremony had warm words for Worrell.
“ This is a really, really important day for Orange County, for Osceola County, for the Ninth Judicial Circuit,” State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando told VoxPopuli ahead of the ceremony. Earlier, the Democrat had walked with Worrell. “We're here in solidarity with our duly elected state attorney, Monique Worrell, who proudly stood up for the people. She did not back down to fascism … We couldn't be more proud of her.”
Ocoee Commissioner George Oliver III, who also joined Worrell on the solidarity walk, agreed. “It’s a great day when democracy prevails over tyranny,” said the District 4 representative currently running for re-election.
“This moment means a lot,” said Bracy Davis. “While the powers that be disenfranchised a whole lot of voters some years ago, the voters have spoken. We do want Monique Worrell as our duly elected state attorney. So I'm just honored to be here and to witness a wrong being righted for this moment. I’m thankful for Monique Worrell and her courage to come back and to not be oppressed and to fight against oppression.”
Equitable Justice
In her 20-minute remarks, Worrell laid out her priorities for her term. She vowed to evaluate the state of the State Attorney's office, to keep what was working and improve what wasn’t — and have the “wisdom to know the difference.” She specifically mentioned reviewing diversion programs and bringing back the Your Future, Your Choice program to reduce juvenile crime, the violent crime task force and the adult civil citation program.
A longtime criminal justice reformer, Worrell is a proponent of solutions-focused prosecution. She emphasized those ideas again in her speech, saying, “ We have to address the flaws in our criminal legal system to ensure it is equitable and delivers on its promise of justice, not as a privilege for some, but as a right for all. Under my leadership, we will bring that balance back.
“We will be firm when we need to be, ensuring that those who cause harm are held accountable and removed from our streets," she continued. "But we will also be compassionate. We will focus on the bigger picture, knowing that true public safety is not just about punishment, but it's also about prevention, rehabilitation, and giving people the tools they need to turn their lives around.
"This is not an either or situation. We need both accountability and opportunity to build the safer community we all deserve.”
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