Petition asks FL Supreme Court to stop DeSantis from ‘interfering’

A South Florida appellate attorney asked the Florida Supreme Court Tuesday to stop Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials from “interfering” with the election for the proposed abortion-rights amendment.

In his petition, Adam Richardson alleges that Florida’s top leaders are misusing and abusing their offices in opposition to Amendment 4, which would protect abortion access until the point of viability.

The attorney filed the paperwork asking the court to step in after the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration published a webpage on Thursday declaring that the abortion-rights amendment “threatens women’s safety.”

Subsequently, the agency posted a video directing people to the website.

“I think that the DeSantis administration is engaging in outrageous and unlawful electioneering to put his thumb on the scale on Amendment 4. It’s a blatant abuse of state resources,” Richardson said in a phone interview with Florida Phoenix.

“They’re spending taxpayer money on it and, given that there are only 56 days until the election, this kind of a petition was the fastest way to, hopefully, get a resolution.”

DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and AHCA Secretary Jason Weida are respondents in the petition that Richardson filed claiming standing as a state taxpayer. The agency’s website is not the only act Richardson called out in the filing. He also mentioned a Sept. 5 email from the Executive Office of the Governor inviting faith and community leaders to an event titled, “Your Legal Rights & Amendment 4’s Ramifications.”

Richardson claims those actions are against Florida law banning officers and employees of the state from using their “official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election.”

During a press conference in Lake City on Tuesday, DeSantis said the webpage was 100% accurate. He dismissed the backlash on Monday too, comparing the move from the health care agency to a public service announcement.

“It’s not an anti-Amendment 4. What it is, it’s providing information about what Florida law is and the resources that are available under that law,” he said.

Richardson won the race to the courthouse with Florida Democrats. On Monday, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Friend said the party was exploring legal options, including seeking an injunction against the webpage.

The governor’s office and Moody’s office did not respond to the Phoenix’s request for comment. AHCA directed the Phoenix to the comments the governor made during the Tuesday press conference.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and X.