Parson to Announce Gardner’s Replacement

Today at 11 a.m., Governor Mike Parson will hold a press conference outside the City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office at Carnahan Courthouse in St. Louis to announce who he has appointed to be the next City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney. 

Governor Parson has invited U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, City of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, City of St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy, 22nd Judicial Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hogan, and City of St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts to participate in the press conference.

Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten and Missouri State Highway Patrol Colonel Eric Olson will also be in attendance.

Embattled St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, who this month announced she would resign effective June 1, said she was leaving office immediately, ending a turbulent tenure marked by frequent criticism, especially from Missouri’s Republican leaders.

The sudden announcement Tuesday created confusion about who is running the prosecutor’s office.

A statement from Gardner’s office said she has been working with St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell on the transition.

But Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who will appoint a replacement, told reporters that he’ll announce his pick by Friday, and that until that person takes over, the Missouri attorney general’s office would operate the circuit attorney’s office, starting Wednesday.