Gardner was due in court Tuesday for another hearing in Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s effort to remove her from office.
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner stepped down on Tuesday.
A message from Gardner’s office at 12:30 p.m. said her departure was effective immediately.
“The Circuit Attorney has worked with St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell and his office to ensure a comprehensive transition plan is in place to handle cases that prioritizes public safety,” the statement said. “Effective immediately, Kimberly M. Gardner will end her service as the City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney. Ms. Gardner has been committed to serving the people of the City of St. Louis and has done all she can to ensure a smooth transition. Further inquiries about ongoing cases can be directed to St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.”
She had previously announced she would be resigning on June 1.
Bell announced last Friday that his office was helping Gardner’s office at her request.
Gardner was due in court Tuesday for another hearing in Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s effort to remove her from office. Bailey said previously he would continue the effort even after Gardner announced she would be leaving office on June 1.
It is unclear if Tuesday’s court hearing would continue as scheduled.
Gardner’s office has been under mounting pressure after contempt of court hearings, staff attorney resignations, and the handling of high-profile cases.
In one case, a 17-year-old volleyball player was critically injured in a crash caused by a suspect who was supposed to be on house arrest.
Janae Edmondson and her family were walking back to their hotel in downtown St. Louis on Feb. 28 when police said 21-year-old Daniel Riley sped down St. Charles Street, failed to brake, hit several cars and pinned Edmondson. Edmundson lost both of her legs in the crash.
The I-Team reported that Riley had violated his GPS monitoring conditions at least 90 times since he was first charged with armed criminal action and robbery in September 2020.
After a steady stream of resignations, the ranks of assistant prosecutors in Gardner’s office are almost entirely depleted. At last report, she has just one prosecutor on staff who can handle violent felony trials, and they’re each saddled with staggering burdens of hundreds of case files.
The workload has grown so large, prosecutors have missed serious criminal court hearings, judges have issued public rebukes, and distressed staff have exited Gardner’s office with sordid tales of a toxic work environment.
Read More: Kim Gardner steps down as circuit attorney, weeks earlier than previously expected