Bar Association Calls On Prosecutor To Recuse Himself From Ferguson Investigation

One of the oldest African-American bar associations in the country is calling on the Missouri prosecutor who is overseeing an investigation into the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown to recuse himself.

The Mound City Bar Association is concerned that St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch's family ties with St. Louis' police department may impact his ability to conduct an impartial investigation. The prosecutor's father, mother, brother, uncle and cousin have all worked for the department, and his father was killed while responding to a call involving a black suspect, according to CBS News .

"The community is gravely concerned about the lack of transparency and lack of candor that St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch has openly displayed about the way in which this case should be handled," Mount City Bar President Kendra Howard said in a Tuesday press release.

"Mr. McCulloch has shown that he is emotionally invested in protecting law enforcement, and therefore should immediately step aside and allow the Justice Department to investigate the death of Michael Brown. The only way we can ensure trust is for the Justice Department to take over the investigation."

Howard wants the Justice Department to take over the investigation in place of McCulloch. Association attorneys are scheduled to outline their wishes during a Tuesday press conference outside the federal courthouse in St. Louis.

"Whatever investigation has been conducted is not transparent as no details of the shooting have been released. The only information released has been irrelevant and aggravated a tense situation, thereby violating the public trust that the community has a right to rely on," Howard added.

If McCulloch decides to pursue the case, the Mound City Bar Association wants a grand jury to confirm any future charges should they be filed.

A spokesman for McCulloch told CBS on Monday that the prosecutor plans to remain in charge of the investigation.