Ald. Keys Loses Appeal, Aldermen Continue Ignoring City Charter
Years after voter approval, the Board of Aldermen is still ignoring charter changes passed in April of 2022 with the support of 69% of city voters. The charter changes were known by their “Reform St. Louis” campaign and dealt with a number of issues. The most notable of the changes pertained to the aldermen’s conflict-of-interest procedures and the decennial redistricting process. The legal challenge to the approved charter changes was initiated by former aldermen Jack Coatar, John Collins-Muhammad, Marlene Davis, and Carol Howard. Following the end of their service as aldermen, Ald. Laura Keys became the case’s primary plaintiff. The extended litigation of the voter-approved charter changes has long been rumored to be funded by politically connected interests.
The recent decision was signed by Hon. Angela Quigless. Two other judges who participated in the appeal hearing concurred with her opinion. The judges did choose to amend the cases’ original decision, modifying the outcome to dismissal without prejudice. “A ripe controversy does not exist here. The circuit court correctly determined that Keys failed to present a justiciable controversy. The circuit court technically erred, however, in granting summary judgment in favor of the City instead of simply dismissing the petition,” stated the signed opinion.
Ald. Keys’ appeal challenged a previous court ruling that the aldermen were not yet able to challenge the charter changes because they had not been implemented. The appeal court agreed with the prior ruling and found that the lack of implementation meant that none of the aldermen, including the plaintiff, could have actually been harmed by the new rules. “Keys has not shown that Prop R affects her in a manner giving rise to an immediate, concrete dispute. Rather, this case presents the kind of hypothetical or speculative situation that may never come to pass that the courts of Missouri have declined to adjudicate based on the lack of a ripe controversy,” stated Judge Quigless’ opinion. The court did not rule on the underlying questions of legality that Ald. Keys raised in her challenge. Ald. Keys was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
As the President of the Board of Aldermen’s office would be responsible for implementing the charter changes, it was contacted three times with requests for comment. They did not respond to questions related to the outcome of the case. In 2025, the President’s office committed to implementing the changes to aldermanic conflict-of-interest policies. All three emails requesting comment were opened, but no response was given to questions about the office’s plans to follow through on implementing the changes. The changes to aldermanic conflict-of-interest requirements have been publicly opposed by acting President of the Board of Aldermen Shane Cohn, who St. Louis Magazine quoted as saying the charter changes were “bullpucky on so many different levels.”
Board of Aldermen staff contacted after the ruling was published report that there have not been discussions about implementing the rules. There is no court injunction or other known reason for continued delays in the implementation of the reforms, putting the Board of Aldermen in conflict with the city charter.
