Kimberly Gardner facts for kids

Kimberly M. Gardner (born August 2, 1975) is an American politician and attorney from the state of Missouri. She was the circuit attorney for the city of St. Louis, Missouri. She previously served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives.

On May 4, 2023, Gardner officially resigned as Circuit Attorney of St. Louis. She announced her resignation would be effective June 1, but ended up stepping down early on May 16.

Early life and education

Gardner was born in 1975 and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Her family runs a funeral home in North St. Louis, at which she also worked. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in healthcare administration from Harris–Stowe State University in 1999. She then earned a Juris Doctor from the Saint Louis University School of Law in 2003 and a Master of Science in nursing from Saint Louis University in 2012.

Career

Pre-public life and State Rep.

Gardner worked at Bell, Kirksey & Associates, a law firm, and as an assistant prosecutor (St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, 2005–2010) prior to being elected as Circuit Attorney. From 2013 to 2017 she was a Missouri State Representative for District 77.

Circuit attorney

Gardner took office on January 6, 2017. She is the first African-American to head the Circuit Attorney's Office. 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.

As Circuit Attorney, Gardner removed or reduced the amount of cash required for bonds for minor, nonviolent offenses. She also expanded diversion programs and consulted with the Vera Institute of Justice on these issues. During Gardner's tenure, the CAO shared a federal grant to work with the Midwest Innocence Project on wrongful convictions.

Staff turnover and shortage

The Circuit Attorney's Office experienced a more than 100% turnover rate in staff since Gardner took office. 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.

Grand jury process

Kim Gardner's office charged defendants under direct complaint and then used the grand jury process to delay the preliminary hearing. The average wait was 344 days as of March 2021. The Missouri Supreme Court changed the rules on preliminary hearings effective March 1, 2021, to that "courts must hold preliminary hearings within 30 days of felony complaints being filed if a defendant is in jail, and within 60 days if not". Kim Gardner's continued use of the grand jury process circumvented the Supreme Court's attempt at reform.

Election history

2016 campaign

Gardner ran against three Democratic opponents to secure her post as Circuit Attorney in the 2016 elections, following the retirement of Jennifer Joyce. She ran on reforming and rebuilding trust in the criminal justice system and reducing violent crime. She 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 $190,750.73 from 'Super PACs' (Political Action Committees) funded in part by billionaire George Soros.

2020 campaign

On August 4, Gardner won a contested primary for reelection, receiving 60.9% of the vote against her leading 2016 primary opponent, Mary Pat Carl. Gardner won the November general election with 74.01% of the vote, defeating Republican Daniel Zdrodowski.