Judge rules for Florida's DeSantis against prosecutor for abortion stance

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, considered a 2024 Republican presidential contender, will not be forced to reinstate an elected state prosecutor he suspended over his pledge not to bring criminal cases against people seeking or providing abortions, a federal judge ruled on Friday.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle in the state capital Tallahassee ruled against prosecutor Andrew Warren, a Democrat, in his lawsuit seeking to be reinstated as head of the state attorney's office in Tampa. DeSantis on Aug. 4 barred Warren from performing any official "act, duty or function of public office."

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

By Mike Scarcella