The Honorable Judge Denise L. Childress will be on the ballot in 2026!
The Hon. Denise L. Childress
Prior to taking the Bench, Judge Childress spent her legal career honing her skills in her practice areas. She is proud to have defended both the Missouri and United States Constitutions every day in court, holding the line between Joe Citizen and the Government. In other words, the Government had to get through her before they got to you.
She has had the privilege to try many cases all over the State of Missouri, appearing on the record defending citizens in 44 counties. She contended with the Senior Public Health Laboratory Scientist for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, as well as other government witnesses and experts.
Judge Childress has argued before the Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Court of Appeals for the Southern District of Missouri and authored two Amicus "Friend of the Court" Briefs in the Missouri Supreme Court.
Judge Childress was a small business owner, opening her own law firm in 2019 - just before COVID - and successfully operating the Firm until taking the Bench in 2025. In 2020, during COVID, she and a partner opened another small business, The Missouri DWI Institute, LLC, with a mission to educate Missouri lawyers, judges, and law enforcement officers on the scientific and technical aspects of DWI law.
She's proud to say that she built a strong reputation in the legal community and is a nationally sought-after educator in her field. As a member of the judiciary, Judge Childress has been asked to educate fellow judges at the Annual Conference for Municipal and Associate Circuit Judges Association to ensure Missouri's judiciary maintains the finest-trained judges.
Let's Get Personal
Judge Childress is an Aunt to many nieces and nephews who make her so proud with all of their ongoing achievements. She comes from a large family which has been testing the bounds of geometric progression since 1949. She is a granddaughter to the late Bill and Rosemary Childress, whose direct progeny now counts into the two hundreds. Believe it or not, Denise was already number 50 when she was born! Chances are high that you unwittingly know one of her cousins. Some of her favorite memories stem from being squeezed into the basement of a three-bedroom, two bathroom ranch for Childress Christmas, or going on the Annual Childress Family Reunion at Kentucky Lake, wondering what this year's swag item will be.
She is also a granddaughter to the late Joseph and Angeline Bonsignore, whose parents both immigrated here, legally, from Italy. Denise's Grandfathers both fought for our Country in World War II.
Judge Childress obtained her JD from SLU Law and attended Truman State University for undergrad. In college, Denise studied abroad and spent a month living with a local family in Santa Ana, Costa Rica while attending a Full Immersion Spanish Program at the Centro Linguistico, Conversa. Judge Childress grew up in St. Louis but crossed the river and gladly planted her roots in St. Charles County nearly a decade ago. Once in St. Charles, Denise rescued her three-legged brindle Plott Hound, Holly, with whom she enjoys exploring the local parks.
Judge Childress is an athlete. While in college, she played goalie for Truman State University’s seventh-ranked varsity soccer team and was named Athlete of the Month. In high school, she also played varsity soccer at her alma mater, Nerinx Hall, taking home 3rd place in the State Championship with a record of 28-1-1.
Judge Childress enjoys volunteering her time within the community. She volunteers at the Foster Adoption Support Team St. Charles (FAST) food pantry and clothing closet to help support the foster families and the foster children in St. Charles County. She also volunteers as a Board member at Boone Center, Inc (BCI), a nonprofit company proud to provide employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the St. Charles region and beyond. She was particularly proud to volunteer on the Board of Directors for the St. Charles City Parks and Recreation Department, being part of the team that opened Forget Me Not Park off Main Street and beginning the Master Planning for the 96 Acre Park off Highway 94.
Show your support today!!
St. Charles County has over 300,000 voters who are eligible to cast a ballot and vote for the Honorable Denise L. Childress in her election. To spread our message to such a large group will take all the help we can get!
Help Judge Childress spread the word by donating today - Every dollar counts!
