St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell filed an order Tuesday barring Dennis Hancock from acting as a St. Louis County Council member.

A judge issued a preliminary order prohibiting Hancock from participating in any activities or exercising any authority as a member of the council. This means Hancock may not be able to participate in Tuesday’s council meeting.

Bell initiated a “quo warranto” action after Hancock attempted to hire his stepdaughter as his assistant.

Court documents state that on Aug. 19, Hancock appointed Hollie Galati to be his legislative assistant; both Hancock and Galati acknowledged that they are related. Per the Missouri Constitution, “any public officer or employee in this state who by virtue of his office or employment names or appoints to public office or employment any relative within the fourth degree, by consanguinity or affinity, shall thereby forfeit his office or employment.”

“The Missouri Constitution is clear and unambiguously prohibits elected officials from hiring a relative. The Missouri Constitution is also clear that upon hiring a relative, an elected official forfeits his or her position. The Constitution does not give discretion or take lapses in judgement into consideration,” Bell said in a statement. “I take no pleasure in pursuing this action, but based on the clear language of the constitution, it would be a dereliction of our duty to not bring this matter before the court.”

Hancock, a Republican and former mayor of Fenton, has represented the 3rd District on the council since 2022. In addition to Fenton, the 3rd District also includes the municipalities of Sunset Hills, Kirkwood and portions of unincorporated South County.

He is one of four members of the council who typically go against County Executive Sam Page’s administration, while three members of the council sometimes align more with Page.

The council is set to vote Tuesday afternoon on a proposal to hire its own attorney for legal representation and advice in court.

Three out of the seven council members are against the proposal. Without Hancock, the measure could stall.