Boone County Criminal Defense Lawyers

JMH Law Firm, LLC takes criminal defense and traffic cases in Boone County courts. Our offices are in St. Charles and Brentwood, so we don't have an office in Columbia. When you hire us for a Boone County case, we handle it in the Boone County courts.

The Boone County Courthouse

Boone County is part of Missouri's 13th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Callaway County. State criminal cases in Boone County, from felonies to misdemeanors to state traffic tickets, are heard at the Boone County Courthouse, 705 E. Walnut Street, Columbia, MO 65201. The Circuit Clerk and the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney both have offices in the building.

Two practical points before your first court date:

• Leave your phone in the car. The circuit's local rules don't allow devices with a camera, microphone or data connection in the courthouse without prior authorization.
• Check the hallway screen. Dockets and courtroom assignments are posted on a screen in the main hallway.

You can look up a public case by name or case number on Missouri Case.net.

How a criminal case moves in Boone County

The Boone County Prosecuting Attorney publishes a flowchart of the prosecution process. In short:

1. Police investigate and send their reports to the prosecutor's office.
2. The prosecutor decides whether to file charges.
3. For a felony, the charges are read, and the case then goes to either a preliminary hearing before a judge or a grand jury. Either one can find that there isn't enough evidence and end the case.
4. Formal arraignment, where you enter a plea.
5. A plea or a trial. In felony cases, the court usually orders a sentencing assessment report before sentencing.

A misdemeanor skips the preliminary hearing and grand jury and goes straight from filing to arraignment.

Expect it to take a while. The prosecutor's office says misdemeanor cases "often take months" and felony cases "might take up to a year or more."

Treatment courts in the 13th Circuit

The 13th Circuit lists these treatment court programs for Boone County:

• Drug Court: a voluntary program for people facing non-violent felony charges who need substance use treatment.
• DWI Court: a voluntary program for felony DWI cases, which is part of the person's probation.
• Mental Health Court: for Boone County residents charged with non-violent offenses who have a qualifying mental health diagnosis.
• Veterans Treatment Court: for veterans who have pleaded guilty in Boone or Callaway County and are eligible for VA health care.

The circuit uses an eligibility checklist. Applicants must be at least 18, live in Boone or Callaway County, and have a treatment need. These programs are demanding, so decide with your lawyer whether to apply.

Columbia Municipal Court and the circuit court

Not every case goes to Walnut Street. Columbia Municipal Court, at 600 E. Broadway, hears violations of City of Columbia ordinances. It is a division of the 13th Circuit. It's open Monday through Thursday and closed to the public on Fridays.

A few things are specific to that court:

• Jury trials: you request one by written motion at least 10 days before your trial date, and the case then moves to the circuit court.
• Appeals: if you're found guilty, you can appeal within 10 days for a new trial before a different judge. Paying any part of the fine gives up that right.

Municipal cases from Ashland, Centralia, Hallsville and Sturgeon are heard by an associate circuit judge at the county courthouse in Columbia.

If you're not sure which court you're in, look at the court address on your ticket or summons.

Students, alcohol charges and first DWIs

Columbia is home to the University of Missouri, so many people in these courts are young. Here is the general law, as of 2026:

• Minor in possession (RSMo 311.325). It covers anyone under 21 who buys or tries to buy alcohol, possesses it, is visibly intoxicated, or has a blood alcohol content above 0.02%. A first offense is a class D misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500. A second is a class A misdemeanor.
• Your license. Under RSMo 302.400, a finding of guilt for minor in possession by someone over 15 and under 21 means a 30-day suspension for a first offense, 90 days for a second, and a one-year revocation after that.
• Fake IDs. Using an altered license to buy alcohol is a misdemeanor that carries a $500 fine for each offense on top of other penalties (RSMo 311.320). Altering or misrepresenting a license is a separate charge (RSMo 311.328). For someone under 21, a finding of guilt on it means a 90-day license suspension for a first offense (RSMo 302.400).
• Marijuana under 21. Possession of three ounces or less carries a civil penalty of up to $100 under Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution. You can choose up to four hours of drug education or counseling instead of the fine. Read more on our marijuana defense page.
• A first DWI involves two separate cases: the criminal charge, and a license suspension from the Department of Revenue. You have 15 days from receiving the suspension notice to request a hearing. For drivers under 21, the administrative limit is 0.02%. See our first-offense DWI and underage DWI pages.

Many of these are misdemeanors, but they can still follow you. Our misdemeanor defense page explains the options, and our traffic tickets section covers speeding and other moving violations.

Towns we serve in Boone County

We take cases from across the county, including Columbia, Ashland, Centralia, Hallsville, Rocheport, Sturgeon and Hartsburg.

Talk to a lawyer about your Boone County case

If you've been charged or ticketed in Boone County, call JMH Law Firm at 314-827-6222 or send us a message. We're based in St. Charles, at 223 N. Main Street, Suite 1, and in Brentwood. See all the areas we serve.