Federal prosecutors sworn-in to help Circuit Attorney’s Office

ST. LOUIS – Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hogan on Tuesday swore-in six assistant U.S. attorneys as special prosecutors to ease the build-up of serious pending felony cases in St. Louis Circuit Court.

St. Louis Presiding Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hogan, center, swears in several assistant U.S. attorneys as special prosecutors in the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

The prosecutors who took the oath of office Tuesday are Jerry McDonald, Christine Krug, Matthew Martin, Paul D’Agrosa, Ashley Walker and Nicholas Lake.

Two others, Hal Goldsmith and Jennifer Szczucinski, are expected to be sworn-in soon.

McDonald, Krug, Walker, Martin, Lake and Szczucinski are former assistant circuit attorneys in St. Louis.

They are expected to begin working on homicides and other serious cases while continuing their regular caseload in U.S. District Court.

They joined a wave of prosecutors hired by or returning to the Circuit Attorney’s Office since Gabe Gore stepped in to replace Kimberly M. Gardner. Gore was appointed by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson following Gardner’s abrupt resignation.

Gore has hired at least a dozen assistant circuit attorneys to join his ranks in the last few weeks to rebuild an understaffed office under his predecessor.