(LibertySociety.com) – St. Louis circuit attorney Kim Gardner, who is currently fighting her removal from office, is facing more complaints and criticism. According to Fox News, has faced allegations and criticism in the past, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping. The outlet notes that this past week, Gardner was sanctioned by a St. Louis judge for “withholding evidence in a double homicide case.” In the case in question, the suspect was initially charged with second-degree homicide although the charges were downgraded to voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. Gardner has reportedly failed to turn over a recorded 911 call and evidence containing DNA to the defense.
Gardner’s office has also faced scrutiny for lack of preparedness for cases, oftentimes having to refile charges, delay trials, or dismiss cases altogether because of the high turnover rate of employees in her office, signaling “a state of dysfunction, low morale and dearth of legal wisdom necessary,” according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Another defendant, Daniel Riley, who was accused of striking volleyball player Janae Edmonson with his vehicle, was reportedly never given indictment paperwork by Gardner’s office, resulting in a judge printing it for him during his arraignment.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a quo warranto against Gardner in February 2023 shortly after he took office, beginning an attempt to remove her from office for neglecting her duties as circuit attorney. He stated, “Instead of protecting victims, Circuit Attorney Gardner is creating them,” and has since filed an amended claim in March 2023. AG Bailey is also investigating financial concerns at her office, subpoenaing the Comptroller’s Office and Budget Division of the city of St. Louis.
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