Sam Page appeals ruling to name St. Louis County's next top prosecutor

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - St. Louis County Executive Sam Page officially filed documents Friday to appeal a judge's ruling that allows Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to appoint the next St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney.

A Dec. 20 ruling grants Gov. Parson “sole authority” in appointing Wesley Bell’s successor as St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney and prohibits St. Louis County Executive Sam Page from proceeding with plans to appoint a candidate for that role.

Page and Parson have been at odds over who has the authority to formally appoint Bell’s replacement since Bell was elected for a seat within the Missouri U.S. House of Representatives. He is scheduled to resign from his post as the county's top prosecutor on Jan. 3, 2025, to be sworn into Congress.

Currently, Parson's original pick for appointment, Melissa Price Smith, is on track to be sworn in as the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney next week.

Page's appeal attempts to challenge the ruling that paves the way for Smith to take over, specifically a ruling that the county prosecutor is a state officer, not a county officer.

The 43-page appeal, submitted Friday in the Missouri Eastern District of Appeals, references 100 years of case law and cites examples of similar appointments in other counties.

A ruling on the appeal is expected by Jan. 2, 2025, the day Bell is scheduled to resign in preparation for the transition.