ST. LOUIS -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) held a meeting with the state legislature's black caucus on Sunday in the aftermath of the Michael Brown shooting, but he said he is sticking by the prosecuting attorney in the case despite complaints from many black leaders.
"I repeated what I said over the last few days, which is that the prosecutor as elected by the county has a duty and responsibility to do his job, and that's what he should do," Nixon said after the two-hour meeting.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch (D) has been criticized by many in Ferguson and beyond for his close ties to the police. His father was a police officer killed in the line of duty by a black man.
McCulloch began presenting evidence this week to a 12-person grand jury that will decide whether to indict officer Darren Wilson, who shot Brown. McCulloch has said the process could last until October.
Nixon could ask McCulloch to step aside so that he could appoint a special prosecutor, but he has not done so.
"They're not listening," said State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis), who organized a petition drive calling for a special prosecutor. Nasheed said she walked out of the meeting at one point, before returning.
Nixon could face a political backlash if he replaced McCulloch in the highly charged case. But State Rep. Karla May (D-St. Louis) said the people she represents are asking for more.
"Constituents want justice, and they want an arrest and a charge," she said. "They feel like our plight is being ignored, as usual."
Nixon plans on attending Brown's funeral on Monday, an aide said.
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