CLAYTON, Mo. — A panel from the Missouri appeals court determined on Thursday that the state’s Republican governor has the authority to appoint a successor for St. Louis County’s outgoing prosecuting attorney, rather than the county’s Democratic executive.

This decision appears to put an end to the ongoing legal conflict between Governor Mike Parson and County Executive Sam Page. Following the ruling, the county confirmed that Parson’s choice, Melissa Price Smith, is set to be sworn into office on Friday. She will take over the position from Wesley Bell, a Democrat recently elected to Congress, who will also be sworn in on the same day in Washington, D.C.

The appeals court’s decision affirms a previous ruling made by a circuit judge in December. This verdict was reached just hours after representatives for both the state and county presented their arguments before the three-judge panel, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

According to appellate Judge John P. Torbitzky, the role of the prosecuting attorney involves vital state responsibilities. Therefore, he stated that the governor possesses both the constitutional and legal authority to fill the vacancy that has arisen.

Previously, both Parson and Page sought to appoint individuals to complete the final two years of Bell’s term, with the next full-term election scheduled for 2026. Parson selected Smith, a 56-year-old assistant prosecutor from St. Louis County, who has been with the office since 2008. Meanwhile, Page appointed Cort VanOstran, a 36-year-old federal prosecutor for eastern Missouri, a position he left upon being appointed by Page.