St. Louis County Criminal Defense Lawyers
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JMH Law Firm, LLC takes criminal defense and traffic cases throughout St. Louis County, in the courthouse in Clayton and in the city courts of the county's towns. Clients here work with our Brentwood office.
Which court is your St. Louis County case in?
Start with the paper you were given. In St. Louis County, a charge can land in one of three kinds of court:
- The 21st Judicial Circuit Court in Clayton hears state charges: felonies, state misdemeanors and state traffic tickets.
- A city's municipal court hears violations of that city's ordinances, which usually means tickets written by that city's police.
- The St. Louis County Municipal Court hears violations of county ordinances in unincorporated areas, plus cases from Pasadena Hills, Twin Oaks, Green Park, Marlborough and Norwood Court, which contract with it.
Your ticket or summons names the court. Once a case is filed, you can look it up on Missouri Case.net, the state courts' public case search.
The 21st Judicial Circuit Court in Clayton
St. Louis County makes up Missouri's 21st Judicial Circuit. Its courthouse is at 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105. The main number is 314-615-8029, and the court is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The circuit has two kinds of judges, and the split matters for a criminal case. As of 2026, the local rules send these matters to associate circuit judges:
- felony cases until the prosecutor files a formal charge (an information) or a grand jury returns an indictment;
- misdemeanors, infractions and state traffic violations;
- new trials (trials de novo) in municipal ordinance cases.
Once a felony is formally charged, the Circuit Clerk assigns it at random to a circuit judge in one of the jury trial divisions. The local rules also give two traffic commissioners their own divisions, and a treatment court commissioner sits in Division 68.
How a felony moves through the 21st Circuit
Every case is different, but most St. Louis County felony cases follow this path:
- Arrest or summons. Charges are filed electronically with the Circuit Clerk. The judge who signs a warrant sets the first bond. After that, requests to change bond go to the judge the case is assigned to.
- First appearance before an associate circuit judge, because associate judges handle a felony until it is formally charged.
- Preliminary hearing or grand jury. Missouri law bars a prosecutor from filing a felony information until you've had the chance at a preliminary hearing before an associate circuit judge, unless you waive it or a grand jury indicts you (RSMo 544.250). The 21st Circuit's rules provide for both routes, including a judge assigned to the grand jury who reviews bond on new indictments.
- Arraignment. After a bind-over or indictment, the case goes on the arraignment docket. The local rules let your lawyer waive formal arraignment in writing and enter a plea of not guilty.
- Discovery, motions, negotiation and trial in the assigned division. Under the local rules, a guilty plea can only be entered before the assigned judge or that judge's designee.
Misdemeanors usually stay with an associate circuit judge from start to finish. For more on each path, see our pages on felony defense and misdemeanor defense.
Treatment courts in St. Louis County
As of 2026, the 21st Circuit lists these treatment courts for adults facing criminal charges:
- Adult Drug Court
- DWI Treatment Court
- Mental Health Court
- Veterans Court
- Co-Occurring Disorders Court
The circuit also runs a Family Treatment Court (SAFETI) on the family side. Under Missouri law, a treatment court is a non-adversarial court division built on close supervision, drug or alcohol testing and treatment (RSMo 478.001). The same statute defines a DWI court as one for people who have pleaded guilty to or been found guilty of DWI. Each program sets its own entry rules, so if alcohol, drugs or mental health played a part in your arrest, raise these programs with your lawyer early. Our DWI defense and veterans criminal defense pages explain more.
Municipal courts in St. Louis County
As of 2026, the 21st Circuit's directory lists more than 75 municipal divisions in St. Louis County, from Ballwin to Woodson Terrace. Each is a division of the circuit court, and each hears its own city's ordinance cases, from speeding tickets to other local violations.
A municipal case is still a criminal-style case with a judge, a prosecutor and a record. Two rights are worth knowing under the 21st Circuit's local rules:
- Jury trial. Municipal judges don't hold jury trials. Where the law gives you a right to a jury, you must ask in a written motion filed at least 10 days before trial. The case then moves to an associate circuit judge.
- New trial after a loss. If you're found guilty after a trial in municipal court, you can usually ask for a trial de novo before an associate circuit judge, but the application must be filed within 10 days of the judgment. A guilty plea generally ends that right (RSMo 479.200).
The St. Louis County Municipal Court is separate from the city courts. Its main office is in the Courts Building at 105 South Central Avenue (314-615-8760). For tickets, see our traffic tickets section.
Our Brentwood office
JMH Law Firm, LLC's Brentwood office is at 8821 Manchester Road, Brentwood, MO 63144, a short drive from the courthouse in Clayton. Call 314-827-6222 or contact us online to talk through your charge, your court date and your options. If an old St. Louis County case is holding you back, ask about expungement.
Communities we serve in St. Louis County
Cities and villages: Ballwin, Bel-Nor, Bel-Ridge, Bella Villa, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Black Jack, Breckenridge Hills, Brentwood, Bridgeton, Calverton Park, Chesterfield, Clarkson Valley, Clayton, Cool Valley, Country Club Hills, Country Life Acres, Crestwood, Creve Coeur, Crystal Lake Park, Dellwood, Des Peres, Ellisville, Eureka, Fenton, Ferguson, Florissant, Frontenac, Glen Echo Park, Glendale, Grantwood Village, Green Park, Greendale, Hanley Hills, Hazelwood, Hillsdale, Huntleigh, Jennings, Kinloch, Kirkwood, Ladue, Manchester, Maplewood, Marlborough, Maryland Heights, Moline Acres, Normandy, Norwood Court, Oakland, Olivette, Overland, Pagedale, Pasadena Hills, Pasadena Park, Pine Lawn, Richmond Heights, Riverview, Rock Hill, Shrewsbury, St. Ann, St. John, Sunset Hills, Sycamore Hills, Town and Country, Twin Oaks, University City, Uplands Park, Valley Park, Warson Woods, Webster Groves, Wellston, Westwood, Wildwood, Winchester and Woodson Terrace.
Unincorporated communities: Affton, Concord, Earth City, Glasgow Village, Lemay, Mehlville, Oakville, Sappington and Spanish Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the St. Louis County courthouse?
The 21st Judicial Circuit Court, which hears state criminal cases for St. Louis County, is at 105 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105. The main number is 314-615-8029, and the court is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Your summons or bond paperwork will name the division and courtroom.
Is my St. Louis County ticket in municipal court or circuit court?
It depends on the law you're charged under. A city ordinance ticket goes to that city's municipal court. A county ordinance ticket from an unincorporated area goes to the St. Louis County Municipal Court. A state charge goes to the circuit court in Clayton. The ticket names the court, and you can check a filed case on Missouri Case.net.
Can I get a jury trial on a municipal charge in St. Louis County?
Municipal judges don't hold jury trials. Where the law gives you a right to a jury, the 21st Circuit's local rules require a written motion filed at least 10 days before the trial date. If it's granted, the case moves to an associate circuit judge in Clayton.
Does St. Louis County have a DWI court?
Yes. As of 2026, the 21st Circuit lists a DWI Treatment Court alongside an Adult Drug Court, a Mental Health Court, a Veterans Court and a Co-Occurring Disorders Court. Each program sets its own entry rules, so talk to a lawyer about whether it fits your case before you apply.
