Gov. Ron DeSantis has named Andrew Bain a judge for Orange County. The appointment was announced yesterday, and Bain will return to the bench where he served from 2020 to 2023. According to a WESH report, this decision comes after legislative actions expanded the judiciary, adding three new positions to Orange County's court system.
Bain stepped in to quickly fulfill the role of state attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit (Orange/Osceola) in 2023, following DeSantis' suspension of then-State Attorney Monique Worrell. However, Worrell regained her seat the following year, overcoming Bain in the elections with more than 57 percent of the vote, WFTV reported.
The new judicial role for Bain is part of a broader initiative, with DeSantis appearing to place trusted figures in key judicial spots strategically. Critiques of what some perceive as a politicization of the judiciary circle around such moves, pointing to the governor's suspension order against Worrell, which was controversially based on her policy decisions regarding mandatory minimum sentences. The FOX 35 Orlando piece adds context to this narrative, mentioning that Bain previously worked at Byrd Campbell, P.A., and highlighting his educational background with a law degree from Florida A&M University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami.
