Federal Criminal Defense in the Eastern District of Missouri

I have become a leader in the federal defense bar for the Eastern District of Missouri as witnessed by my being a part of the panel to retain and appoint Magistrates Wilkerson. I also have served on the retention committees for Federal Public Defender Lee Lawless in the Eastern District of Missouri. In 2011 I was appointed by Chief Judge Catherine Perry to be the Criminal Justice Act Panel Representative for the Eastern District of Missouri. I have been an attorney for nearly 25 years and for over a decade have enjoyed an AV rating which is the highest rating given by Martindale Hubbell. I have worked with some of the best St. Louis attorneys and I am proud that my peers hold me in high regard.

I Fight to Win

I don’t believe in a “volume” law practice.  I average only 15-20 open files at a time. This allows me to give personal attention to a particular client’s case, and to personally see a case through to the end. I don’t believe in being hired by a client and then passing the case off to an associate to handle. If a client hires me, I do all of the work.

I am proud to consider myself a trial lawyer, like my Dad, and average between one and two federal jury trials a year. In the very first jury trial, I was appointed to, U.S.A. v. Martinez, 92-CR-40088-JLF I acted as co-counsel and my client was acquitted. I am equally as proud of an acquittal in U.S.A. v. Solares 94-CR-30064-WDS where the Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case was my former trial advocacy teacher at St. Louis University.

In part due to being a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panels, I have represented in excess of 800 criminal Defendants in federal courts in the Southern District of Illinois and Eastern District of Missouri. In recent years, my practice has evolved from representing clients charged with federal drug or gun crimes to white collar cases.

What is the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri?

When we say the Eastern District of Missouri we’re actually referring to the United States District Court.  It is a trial-level federal district court based in St. Louis, MO with jurisdiction over fifty counties in the eastern half of Missouri.  Court itself is held in either St. Louis, Hannibal, or Cape Girardeau.

The Eastern District of Missouri has been active since 1857 and has heard several important cases regarding freedom of speech, abortion, property rights, and campaign finance that have made it all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

As of July 14, 2017, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen was nominated by President Donald Trump to be  the lead federal law enforcement official in the Eastern District of Missouri.

His office is responsible for the prosecution of federal crimes in the Eastern District of Missouri such as terrorism, fraud, public corruption, firearms, narcotics, child exploitation and human trafficking.

Do I fall into the jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Missouri?

If you are charged with a federal crime that falls into one of these counties you may be dealing with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Review the counties below or see a jurisdiction map here.

What do I do if charged with a federal crime in the Eastern District of Missouri?

If you are charged with a federal crime in the Eastern District of Missouri please contact us to schedule an appointment for a confidential discussion about your case.