Platform
The people of St. Louis deserve a justice system that is modern, functional, and fair. As your Circuit Attorney, Gabe is committed to making our office a world-class institution, one that every St. Louisan can be proud of.
-
In the last six months, the Circuit Attorney’s office has prosecuted 45% more cases than were prosecuted during the same six-month period in 2022. Mr. Gore’s team has added 24 attorneys to their staff, some with decades of experience and some who are relatively new.
However, Gabe knows that the work of improving the functionality of the CAO is far from finished. It is not enough for the office to be fully staffed today - to ensure the future of the Circuit Attorney’s Office and criminal justice in our city, Gabe knows we must make investments that will ensure competent staffing for years to come.
To assist our veteran attorneys in mentoring new staff, Circuit Attorney Gore has created the role of Chief of Training within the CAO and hired former Missouri Supreme Court Justice George Draper to fill said role.
To continue modernizing the office and ensure operational efficiency, Mr. Gore has added 14 support staff members to help move cases forward. These include victim services professionals, social workers, and paralegals - all of whom provide integral assistance to the functioning of the CAO.
Gabe believes that a key part of building a modern and effective office is using all resources at our disposal and leveraging strong relationships with the public and private sector to ensure best practices.
Mr. Gore has worked carefully with city leaders, law enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and private lawyers to create a culture of collaboration - one that has significantly helped to reduce the City’s backlog of pending cases.
Mr. Gore has joined with the Mayor’s Office, Board of Aldermen, and City Staff in updating the CAO’s technology and IT systems, to ensure that he and his team are able to conduct business with the utmost efficiency.
Gabe’s goal is for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office to maintain a reputation of excellence - the kind of institution that competes with premiere law firms in attracting passionate and talented legal professionals to the work of public service.
-
As Circuit Attorney, Mr. Gore rejects the notion that as a St. Louisan you have to “get used to” a certain level of violent crime or accept property crime as a cost of living in our city. He is committed to making our city a safer place to call home and firmly believes that doing this job means enforcing the laws - that means not turning a blind eye to any type of crime and aggressively prosecuting violent offenders.
Under Circuit Attorney Gore’s guidance, the CAO has resolved more than 2,500 cases in the last six months, focusing particularly on violent criminal action. In the same timeframe, his team has reduced 20% of backlogged homicide files and has staff currently reviewing 24 homicide cases in which the previous administration did not issue charges, against the recommendation of homicide detectives.
Mr. Gore’s office will continue using working relationships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and private lawyers to help reduce the backlog of cases and ensure that victims and their families receive the justice they deserve.
-
Gabe knows that above all, St. Louisans want a Circuit Attorney who reflects the values of their community. That means competence and professionalism but also fairness and compassion. Sometimes, justice means giving people the opportunities they need to turn their lives around.
Gabe is proud of the work his office has done to increase the effectiveness and participation in diversion programs, which offer alternatives to prison sentences for low-level offenders and a chance to redirect their lives. Diversion programs have been shown to be effective tools in turning individuals away from petty crime. When Mr. Gore came into this role, the office’s diversion program had around 40 participants. Now, he is working to see that number go up to between 250 and 400 participants in the next six weeks.To ensure that the cases prosecuted have been executed correctly and fairly, the Circuit Attorney has revitalized the Conviction Integrity Unit to review cases that might need a second look. Currently, the unit is reviewing three cases to ensure that justice in our city has been done.
Mr. Gore has committed to being available and accountable to the community. His office has been working closely with city leaders and the police department - but most importantly, with our neighbors. Gabe has already hosted neighborhood events that are the first of their kind for the office, and he is committed to directly engaging with neighborhood and ward-level organizations alongside his newly-hired Director of Community Engagement.