Jefferson County Criminal Defense Lawyers
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JMH Law Firm, LLC takes criminal defense and traffic cases in Jefferson County, in Hillsboro and in city courts from Arnold to Pevely. Clients in Jefferson County work with our Brentwood office.
The Jefferson County Courthouse in Hillsboro
Every court in Jefferson County is a division of Missouri's 23rd Judicial Circuit, which covers Jefferson County alone. State criminal cases are heard at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 300 Main Street, Hillsboro, MO 63050. The Circuit Clerk's office is in the same building (636-797-5443), open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays except state holidays.
The circuit has six circuit judges (Divisions 1 to 6) and six associate circuit judges (Divisions 10 to 15). Which kind of judge you see depends on the charge:
- Associate circuit divisions hear misdemeanors and infractions. They also hear felony cases at the start, until the prosecutor files the formal felony charge (called an information).
- Circuit divisions take over felony cases after that point, for arraignment, plea or trial.
Cases are assigned to divisions by category on a blind basis, so you don't choose your judge. You can look up any public case on Missouri Case.net.
How a felony moves through the 23rd Circuit
- Arrest or summons. If police arrest you without a warrant, Missouri law generally requires that you be charged and held on a warrant within 24 hours or released (RSMo 544.170).
- First appearance and bond. Your case starts in an associate division. Under the local rules, a request to set or lower bond is made in writing to the division where the case is pending.
- Preliminary hearing. Before the prosecutor can file a felony information, you have the right to a preliminary hearing before an associate circuit judge (RSMo 544.250). The judge decides whether there's enough evidence to send the case on. You can waive the hearing. Jefferson County's rules don't allow a guilty plea to a felony in the associate division where it was first filed.
- Arraignment. Once you're bound over, or you waive the hearing, the associate judge sends you to the assigned circuit division for arraignment on its next arraignment date. Arraignments are called at 8:30 a.m. unless the division says otherwise.
- Plea or trial. In Jefferson County, a felony plea agreement must be in writing and signed by the prosecutor, you and your lawyer, and filed before the plea.
Misdemeanors usually stay in the associate division from start to finish. Our felony defense and misdemeanor defense pages explain the charges themselves. If you're already on probation and accused of a violation, see our probation violation page.
Treatment courts in Jefferson County
As of 2026, the 23rd Circuit lists four treatment programs:
- Adult Drug Treatment Court
- DWI Court
- Family Treatment Court
- Veterans Treatment Court
Under Missouri law, a DWI court is for people who have pleaded guilty to, or been found guilty of, driving while intoxicated or driving with excessive blood alcohol content. Completing a treatment court program can lead to charges or a penalty being dismissed, reduced or modified (RSMo 478.001). The circuit doesn't publish eligibility rules online, and these programs ask a lot of participants. Decide with your lawyer whether to apply. See our pages on DWI defense and veterans' criminal defense.
Municipal courts and the circuit court
Jefferson County has several municipal courts. Each is a division of the 23rd Circuit, and they don't all meet where you'd expect.
| Court | Where it's held |
|---|---|
| Arnold Municipal Division | 2101 Jeffco Boulevard, Arnold (court Monday evenings at 7 p.m.) |
| Pevely Municipal Division | 401 Main Street, Pevely (first and third Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.) |
| Byrnes Mill Municipal Division | 141 Osage Executive Circle, Byrnes Mill |
| Crystal City, De Soto, Festus, Herculaneum and Hillsboro divisions | Jefferson County Courthouse, Hillsboro |
| Jefferson County Municipal Division | Justice Center, 400 First Street, Hillsboro |
The Jefferson County Municipal Court hears violations of county ordinances. The county says anyone charged there with DWI or driving while revoked or suspended must appear before the judge. Your case appears on Case.net only after the prosecutor has reviewed and filed it.
Which court hears a ticket depends on what it charges. A city ordinance violation goes to that city's municipal division (RSMo 479.010). A state-law charge, such as a Highway Patrol ticket on I-55, normally goes to the circuit court, where associate circuit judges hear misdemeanors and infractions. The court name and address on your ticket settle it.
If you're found guilty after a trial in a municipal division, Missouri law generally lets you apply for a new trial in the circuit court within 10 days of the judgment (RSMo 479.200). In Jefferson County, an associate circuit judge hears those cases. Our traffic tickets section covers speeding, points and license issues.
Towns we serve in Jefferson County
We take cases from across the county, including Hillsboro, Arnold, Festus, Crystal City, De Soto, Herculaneum, Pevely, Imperial, High Ridge, Barnhart, Cedar Hill and House Springs.
Talk to a lawyer about your Jefferson County case
If you've been charged or ticketed in Jefferson County, call JMH Law Firm at 314-827-6222 or send us a message. Our Brentwood office is at 8821 Manchester Road, Brentwood, MO 63144. See all the areas we serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Jefferson County courthouse?
State criminal cases are heard at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 300 Main Street, Hillsboro, MO 63050. The Jefferson County Municipal Court, which hears county ordinance cases, is in a different building, the Justice Center at 400 First Street in Hillsboro.
My ticket says Festus Municipal Court. Do I go to Festus?
Check the address printed on your ticket or summons first. The 23rd Circuit lists the Crystal City, De Soto, Festus, Herculaneum and Hillsboro municipal divisions as held at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Hillsboro. Arnold, Byrnes Mill and Pevely hold court in their own cities.
Does Jefferson County have a DWI court or a veterans court?
Yes. As of 2026, the 23rd Circuit lists four treatment programs, an Adult Drug Treatment Court, a DWI Court, a Family Treatment Court and a Veterans Treatment Court. Whether you qualify depends on your charge and history, so talk it through with a lawyer before you apply.
Do I have to go to my felony arraignment in Hillsboro?
Under the circuit's local rules, you must appear unless a written waiver of arraignment, signed by you and your lawyer, is filed by the arraignment date. Even then, the case is set for trial that day, so your lawyer has to be in court. Some divisions require you to appear anyway.
I got a no-insurance ticket in Jefferson County, but I was insured. What do I do?
For a ticket in the Jefferson County Municipal Court, the county says you can bring proof that you were insured at the time to the court office during business hours, and the ticket will be dismissed. A city or state ticket follows that court's own process.
