Editorial: Republicans’ ominous strategy to thwart criminal justice reform — and democracy

Criminal justice reformers are mistakenly finding comfort in a federal court ruling last month that took Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to task for removing a twice-elected, reform-oriented county prosecutor from office.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said the Republican governor violated both the First Amendment and Florida law by ousting State Attorney Andrew Warren — a Democrat elected by voters in Tampa and the rest of Hillsborough County — for speaking out against Florida’s 15-week abortion ban and proposed legislation