Photos: Lawyers face off in first hearing over Missouri AG's case to remove Kimberly M. Gardner from office
Lawyers for ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner and the Missouri Attorney General's Office sparred in a packed courtroom in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ Tuesday, April 18, 2023 for the first time in the high-profile fight over Gardner's right to continue as the city's top prosecutor. Gardner's office argued that the suit to oust her from office should be thrown out entirely.Â
Pool photos by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Kim Gardner appears in court for first hearing in removal suit
Attorney Michael P. Downey, representing ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner, makes an argument during motions in a lawsuit where the State of Missouri is seeking to remove Gardner from office on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Pool Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Kim Gardner appears in court for first hearing in removal suit
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner sits behind her attorneys in a ºüÀêÊÓƵ courtroom on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 in the first hearing of a lawsuit by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey seeking to remove Gardner from office. Pool Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Kim Gardner appears in court for first hearing in removal suit
Missouri Deputy Attorney General Bill Corrigan discusses his desire for a quick trial in a lawsuit where the State of Missouri is seeking to remove ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Pool Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Kim Gardner appears in court for first hearing in removal suit
Attorney Jonathan Jeffress, left, representing the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's office, and Missouri Assistant Attorney General Gregory Goodwin present arguments over attempts to get access to internal documents from the office of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney.
Kim Gardner appears in court for first hearing in removal suit
Lawyer Bob Plunkert and his client Natalia Ogurkiewicz listen to arguments being made in a ºüÀêÊÓƵ courtroom related to a lawsuit where the State of Missouri is seeking to remove ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Ogurkiewicz recently resigned from the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney's office and believes she has documents that are relevant to the case.
Kim Gardner appears in court for first hearing in removal suit
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner sits behind her attorneys in a ºüÀêÊÓƵ courtroom on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, during a hearing in a lawsuit by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey seeking to remove Gardner from office.
Kim Gardner appears in court for first hearing in removal suit
Judge John Torbitzky listens as lawyers make arguments about a motion to dismiss the lawsuit seeking to remove ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
Kim Gardner appears in court for first hearing in removal suit
Assistant Attorney General Andrew Crane makes arguments to the judge about motions in a lawsuit seeking to remove ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Pool Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Kim Gardner appears in court for first hearing in removal suit
Lawyers make their arguments inside the courtroom where ºüÀêÊÓƵ Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner and her lawyers made an appearance on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 to respond to a lawsuit by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey seeking to remove Gardner from office. Pool Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Photographer
Tuesday's arguments focused on whether the lawsuit which attempts to remove Gardner from office for failing to uphold her duties, should be dismissed and what evidence city prosecutors must provide to the state.
Missouri's attorney general is trying to push Kim Gardner out of office. Meanwhile, she needs lawyers who will show up for trials.