CLAYTON, Mo.—St. Louis County’s new prosecuting attorney was sworn in this morning after weeks of legal challenges over who has authority to appoint the position.

A judge swore in Melissa Price Smith, Gov. Mike Parson’s appointee, this morning at the county courthouse. 

“It is my great honor to be St. Louis County’s new Prosecuting Attorney. This is an honor that comes with great responsibility to the citizens of this region and a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” said Smith during the swearing in.

Price, a veteran of the prosecutor’s office, previously led the office’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse team and says she plans to create separate units for violent crime and homicides. 

The position came open after Wesley Bell was elected to Congress in November. 

A state appeals court ruled Thursday hat because a "prosecuting attorney performs essential state governmental functions", state statutes give Missouri Gov. Mike Parson the authority to fill the pending vacancy in St. Louis County. 

St. Louis County appealed a lower court ruling that gave the power to the governor’s office. Gov. Mike Parson sued after County Executive Sam Page announced he had authority to appoint someone under the county charter, saying his pick was former private attorney and federal prosecutor Cort VanOstran.

Page issued a statement about today’s swearing in saying, “This case was about protecting the county charter and ensuring St. Louis County can select its elected officials. It’s important that the prosecuting attorney’s office be successful, and Melissa Price Smith has my full support in working to keep St. Louis County safe. I am confident she will use her experience to build on the work of Wesley Bell.”