St. Louis County Prosecutor

Melissa Price Smith says an outside analysis will help her take on her new role.

Melissa Price Smith’s swearing-in follows a monthslong legal fight between Missouri and county officials over who has the power to appoint the prosecutor.

The ruling from Circuit Judge Brian May of the 21st Circuit will be appealed.

Circuit Judge Brian May said he will issue his decision promptly. His ruling will almost certainly be appealed.

Gov. Mike Parson has chosen St. Louis County Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Price Smith as the next St. Louis County Prosecutor. County and state leaders are currently in a legal battle over who has the authority to appoint the prosecutor.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page nominated Cort VanOstran to the post Dec. 3, but Gov. Mike Parson has challenged Page’s authority to do so in court.

Cort VanOstran resigned his job as a federal prosecutor this week. He was in private practice before that and ran for Congress in 2018.

A coalition of racial justice organizations says the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office is not keeping its progressive promises. The Prosecutor Watch report evaluates Wesley Bell’s office on five metrics, including transparency and convictions.

A spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said Monday the office was waiting for information before charges can be considered.

The Prosecuting Organizing Table, a coalition of racial justice groups, has released the first of a slew of reports aimed at holding prosecutors in St. Louis and St. Louis County accountable.