A newly public deposition transcript shows former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner offering terse, often cagey answers about why she walked away from the job and what she recalls about a 2022 diversion-program meeting that a former staffer says cost her that same job. The filing has poured fresh fuel on long-running questions about Gardner’s tenure and is now central to a federal race-discrimination lawsuit tied to the Circuit Attorney’s Office.
Deposition and filings
Gardner sat for the deposition in March in the Clayton offices of attorney Bevis Schock, in connection with a lawsuit filed by Becky Goetz, a former diversion specialist. Goetz alleges a contract employee repeatedly called her a “slave owner” during a 2022 meeting and that she was fired after complaining about it. The transcript surfaced in public court records alongside a motion for summary judgment from Gardner’s attorneys, who argue Goetz was let go for legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons and that some claims are barred by qualified immunity. Gardner, who resigned in May 2023, has since kept a low profile and is now a nursing fellow in California, a detail reported in coverage of the deposition by St. Louis Magazine.
Gardner's answers under oath
Pressed repeatedly about what led to her departure from office, Gardner stuck to a minimalist script: “I decided to resign.” She denied hearing the “slave owner” comments during the disputed meeting and testified that Goetz was fired for verifying information about a diversion-program participant. Schock, who represents Goetz, told St. Louis Magazine that he was limited in what he could say publicly, but still described his client’s case as “very strong.”
Why St. Louis is watching
Gardner’s May 2023 resignation followed a quo warranto effort from the state attorney general, a wave of staff departures and mounting criticism of how the office handled cases. A later state review highlighted fiscal and productivity problems that intensified scrutiny of the Circuit Attorney’s Office, with the state audit detailing those findings.
What happens next
The deposition now sits in the court file as judges weigh Gardner’s bid for summary judgment and Goetz’s anticipated response. Both sides appear to be gearing up for a drawn-out legal fight, and more filings and hearings are likely in the coming weeks as the court decides whether the case survives the pretrial phase and moves toward a full-blown trial.
