St. Louis County is set to have a new Prosecuting Attorney after County Executive Dr. Sam Page appointed Cort VanOstran. This change comes after Wesley Bell's election to Congress and his upcoming departure on January 3. VanOstran, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, resigns from his role in the Eastern District of Missouri, where he worked on cases involving fraud, conspiracy, and other justice matters, before taking on his new position.
According to the St. Louis County release, Cort VanOstran, known for his legal work at Gray Ritter Graham and his strong representation of Missourians against large corporations, has earned praise for his dedication. He has also taught at Washington University School of Law since 2016. Dr. Sam Page endorsed VanOstran, saying, "Cort VanOstran is a proven public servant. As a federal prosecutor, he’s worked to protect victims of crime. As an attorney, he’s represented everyday Missourians and stood up to powerful corporate interests." A Missouri native, VanOstran earned his law degree from Washington University and clerked for U.S. District Judges John Ross and Audrey Fleissig and ran for Congress in 2018, receiving over 140,000 votes and nearly 49% of the St. Louis County vote.
With his appointment, VanOstran becomes one of the highest-profile openly LGBTQ chief prosecutors in the U.S., as noted by the St. Louis County Government.
