Fox News reports that a Missouri judge has decided to hold St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner in "indirect criminal contempt." 

This comes after Gardner - one of those leftist prosecutors who have received financial support from liberal billionaire George Soros - failed to appear at multiple court proceedings in the case of Steven Vincent Jr., who is facing multiple charges - including a first-degree assault of an 11-year-old girl.

It is alleged that when Vincent fired a gun the bullet went through the wall of an apartment building and struck the girl, who was sitting in her bed.

Not only has Gardner not appeared in the case, but Assistant Circuit Attorney Chris Desilets also failed to appear. And, Assistant Circuit Attorney Rob Huq, who did make one recent appearance, clearly wasn't prepared for the case.

"Complete indifference and a conscious disregard"

Judge Michael Noble, on Thursday, blasted Gardner in a hearing that was held in regard to the no-shows.

Noble said:

It appears that Ms. Gardner has complete indifference and a conscious disregard for the judicial process. There is sufficient evidence of disdain and disrespect for the judicial process to determine that both Ms. Gardner and Mr. Desilets' conduct support a finding of indirect criminal contempt. Furthermore, any attorney's violation of a court's order constitutes an intentional disobedience and shows a clear intent to disregard the power and authority of the judicial system process.

At the hearing, Noble made it clear that he was not interested in Gardner had her office's excuses for the no-shows. And, he clearly placed the blame on Gardner.

"The circuit attorney's office appears to be a rudderless ship of chaos," Noble said.

Now, Noble will appoint a special prosecutor to oversee the contempt case against Gardner.

Background

Gardner is currently in her second term and is seeking a third term in 2024. But, she has been plagued with controversy, and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is leading an effort to remove her from her circuit attorney position.

According to the Washington Examiner, Bailey has submitted evidence showing Gardner's "absences in court, hiring a suspended lawyer, and mandatory non-disclosure agreements in her office, among other things."

Bailey has given Gardner the opportunity to resign, but Gardner has refused.

Just over the weekend, at a round table discussion on youth and violence that was held at Central Baptist Church, Gardner said, "I ain’t leaving. I ain’t resigning. I ain't doing nothing. You gonna have to remove me."

Gardner further claimed that the effort to remove her is "a witch hunt."