When Gov. Mike Parson announced his appointment of Gabe Gore as St. Louis circuit attorney, he declared that “crime anywhere affects Missourians everywhere, and for too long, dysfunction has plagued the circuit attorney’s office.”

Now six weeks into the job, Gore says the office has taken steps that will make St. Louis safer and that he wants the prosecutor’s office to be seen as among “the best in the country.”

Gore, sworn in May 30, took over an office from Kim Gardner, who resigned under fire May 16 as part of a deal with state legislative leaders to block a proposed takeover of the city prosecutor’s office. Gardner had come under sharp criticism, including a reprimand by the Missouri Supreme Court, questions by local and state authorities about staff turnover, and a backlog of homicide and other violent crime cases.

The criticisms and scrutiny intensified in February 2023 when a Tennessee teen visiting St. Louis for a volleyball tournament was hit by a car driven by a man authorities said had violated his criminal bond numerous times and was driving without a license.

The accident resulted in the teen having both of her legs amputated.

Discussing his first six weeks on the job for the first time at a press conference Wednesday morning in the Carnahan Courthouse in downtown St. Louis, Gore said he wants the city circuit attorney office to be recognized for a “culture of excellence” and become one that is recognized as one of the country’s top prosecutor offices.

His first six weeks on the job, Gore said, found him getting to know existing circuit attorney staff, hiring new attorneys and receiving assistance from regional and federal prosecutors as well as the private sector in trying the backlog of cases.

Gore said that when he assumed office, there were more than 4,500 cases waiting for charges to be issued, and 250 pending homicide cases. With the re-opening of the warrant office, he said, the 4,500 cases now numbers about 2,000.

“We are adding the attorneys necessary to aggressively prosecute violent criminals and make the St. Louis community safer” Gore said. “I would say that the office, when I took it over, was a law office that was in distress. That is what I anticipated and signed up for. We have begun the process of restoring the office.”

Gore said he’s working on building strong relationships with the mayor’s office, police and other government units. He also recognizes, he said, the importance of working with the news media to provide public service.

To build the next generation of circuit attorney staff for the city, Gore said he wants the office to begin recruiting three to five individuals “straight out of law school and make the job attractive to the most talented law students.”

There were 21 attorneys on the trial staff when Gore took over — about one-third of the number of attorneys the office has employed in the past. Gore said he has hired an additional 14 prosecutors, bringing the total to 35.

Asked whether he plans to run for a full four-year term, Gore said he hadn’t yet decided.

“In terms of me seeking office,” he said, “obviously I’ll consider the success we have in the near term, and whether or not I am being effective.”