Orlando,FL - A prominent Florida attorney is voicing concerns over what he perceives as undue political influence in the prosecution of a woman charged in a deadly Orlando road rage shooting. The case has drawn scrutiny following public disagreement between Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Defense attorney Mark O’Mara, who previously represented George Zimmerman, stated he is “troubled” by the Attorney GeneralS public commentary regarding the case of Sarah Allgeo, who is accused of fatally shooting a woman during a road rage incident. O’Mara filed a motion to dismiss the case last month, citing potential immunity issues, with a hearing scheduled for October 30th.Worrell has publicly defended her office’s independent judgment, asserting that decisions on the use of force are matters for judicial determination, not partisan politics, and that prosecutors serve the people of their circuit in accordance with Florida law.
“I would much rather fly under the radar,” O’Mara said in an interview Monday. “I don’t need to have the attorney general and the sitting state attorney tussling over me, my case, my client’s case, anything like that because I’d rather just do it the way it’s supposed to be done. I don’t want external source or pressures, be those political, social, whatever it might be.”
The dispute highlights a growing tension between state attorneys and the Attorney General’s office in Florida, notably regarding prosecutorial discretion and the handling of high-profile cases. worrell’s statement emphasized that the Attorney General’s attempts to “intimidate or override independent prosecutorial judgment erode public trust in the impartial administration of justice.”
The case is being closely watched as it raises questions about the appropriate balance between political oversight and the independence of local prosecutors in the Florida legal system.
