Missouri AG seeks Johnston removal as Ray County prosecutor; judge enjoins her

Residents in Richmond and across Ray County are dealing with a sudden shift in prosecutor authority after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a quo warranto petition seeking to remove Ray County Prosecutor Camille Johnston—and a Ray County Circuit Court judge issued a preliminary order that immediately enjoins her from exercising authority as prosecutor while the case proceeds.

Quick timeline

The preliminary order was electronically filed by the Ray Circuit Division on July 16, 2026 at 10:10 AM under case no. 26RY-CV00635. It required the respondent to file an answer within 10 days and serve a copy on the Attorney General. Pending further order, Johnston is immediately enjoined from exercising prosecuting-authority.

What the Missouri AG filed

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office said it filed a petition for a writ of quo warranto aimed at removing Johnston from office. In the court petition, Johnston is identified as the elected Prosecuting Attorney of Ray County, Missouri.

What the judge ordered—and what it means locally

The preliminary order states that, pending further order of the court, Johnston is immediately enjoined “from engaging in any activity, or exercising any authority” as the Prosecuting Attorney of Ray County.

The order also directs that Johnston will not enter the offices of the prosecutor or the Ray County Courthouse, and will not conduct business with the prosecutor’s office unless expressly authorized by the court.

For Richmond residents and anyone who interacts with the prosecutor’s office as a party, witness, or observer, the key takeaway is straightforward: the order legally restricts Johnston from exercising prosecutorial authority and from entering relevant offices while the quo warranto case moves forward.

What happens next

This preliminary order is not the final decision on the quo warranto petition. The case continues in Ray County Circuit Court, and the next concrete procedural update identified in the preliminary order will be the respondent’s 10-day answer filing (and any subsequent court orders after that).

Sources

• Ray County Circuit Court: Quo warranto petition (filed in the Johnston removal case)
• Missouri Secretary of State: County officials roster (used for Richmond as Ray County seat context)