Kimberly M. Gardner is an American politician and attorney from the state of Missouri. She is the circuit attorney for the city of St. Louis, Missouri. Gardner previously served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. She ran on reforming and rebuilding trust in the criminal justice system and reducing violent crime.
About Kimberly Gardner in brief
Kimberly M. Gardner is an American politician and attorney from the state of Missouri. She is the circuit attorney for the city of St. Louis, Missouri. Gardner previously served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Gardner took office on January 6, 2017 and is the first African-American to head the Circuit Attorney’s Office. She ran on reforming and rebuilding trust in the criminal justice system and reducing violent crime. Gardner’s office secured a grand jury indictment of sitting Missouri Governor Eric Greitens in February 2018, for felony invasion of privacy. In May 2018, the judge ruled that the defense could call Gardner as a witness due to suspected criminal conduct by the prosecution. On May 15, 2018, Gardner announced that all charges against Greiten would be dropped. Gardner has reduced and removed or reduced amounts of cash bond for minor, nonviolent offenses. As Circuit Attorney, Gardner is also expanding diversion and drug court programs, and consulting with the Vera Institute of Justice on these issues. In 2019, St. Louis police sought 7,045 felony cases, but only 1,641 were prosecuted by Gardner’s office. Many were returned to the police citing insufficient evidence, despite claims of sufficient evidence to prosecute by the police union. In January 2019, Gardner”s office accused officers within SLMPD of obstructing their investigation in the shooting death of officer Katlyn Alix by officer Nathaniel R.
Hendren, one of two officers charged with crimes relating to the incident, which resulted in a sharp rebuke by Chief John Hayden. Gardner reached an agreement with the Missouri Ethics Commission to pay a settlement of USD 6,314 in lieu of a USD 63,009 fine. The Circuit Attorney s Office has experienced a more than 100% turnover rate in staff since Gardner took office. In September 2019, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported in September 2019 that over 65 attorneys with a combined experience of over 460 years in prosecutorial experience have left the Circuit Attorney’s office under Gardner. Gardner admitted to repeat campaign finance violations dating back to her time as a Missouri State Legislator. These violations included using campaign donations to pay for a private apartment. Gardner also promised to increase diversity, bring independent investigations of police use of force, work to reduce racial disparities, and enhance gun control. Gardner’s campaign accepted USD 190,750. 73 from ‘Super PACs’ funded in part by billionaire George Soros. Gardner continued the prosecution of former St.Louis Metropolitan Police Department police officer Jason Stockley for first degree murder in the Shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, a case first filed by her predecessor Jennifer Joyce. Gardner announced in February 2019 that the CAO and police department are working together on problems stemming from the list.
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This page is based on the article Kimberly Gardner published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 11, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
