The Honorable Judge Denise L. Childress will be on the ballot in 2026!
Childress for judge
Associate Circuit Judge
On October 5, 2024, Governor Michael L. Parson announced the appointment of Denise L. Childress as Associate Circuit Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit. The Honorable Childress will fill the vacancy created by the election of the Honorable Dwayne Johnson as Circuit Judge who is unopposed in the 2024 general election. Judge Childress takes office January 2025.
Judge Childress's first docket assignment will consist of cases involving pro se family matters, juvenile, small claims, ex parte orders of protection for adults and juveniles, expungements, structured settlements, criminal non-support, and an associate civil law day docket with matters to include landlord tenant, collections, breach of contract, and the like.
Her docket assignment will rotate every two years.
The 11th Judicial Circuit covers Saint Charles County, Missouri. This position has jurisdiction over all St. Charles municipalities: St. Charles City, Foristell, Flint Hill, Dardenne Prairie, Village of Josephville, Weldon Spring, St. Paul, O'Fallon, New Melle, St. Peters, Augusta, Cottleville, Portage Des Sioux, Lake St. Louis, West Alton, and Wentzville.
Experienced Trial Lawyer
Prior to her appointment to the bench, Denise L. Childress was an experienced trial lawyer and the owner of Childress Legal, LLC. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri.
Education
Saint Louis University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, Certificate in Criminal Litigation, 2012
Truman State University, Bachelor of Science in Justice Systems with a Minor in Spanish, 2009
Nerinx Hall High School, 2005
Continuing Legal Education
One of Ms. Childress's core values is to be as educated in her field as possible because it allows her to strive for excellence in representing her clients. Every year Missouri lawyers are required to have a minimum of 15.0 hours of continuing legal education. Based on her years in practice, Ms. Childress is required to have a minimum of 165 hours, but instead has amassed 784.5 hours of reported continuing legal education.
Not only is education important to Ms. Childress, but she also values ethics and integrity. Every year, Missouri lawyers are required to have a minimum of 3.0 hours of continuing legal education in ethics. Based on her years of practice, Ms. Childress is required to have a minimum of 33 hours, but instead has amassed 87.7 hours of reported continuing legal education in ethics.
A Candidate Involved in Her Community
Judge Childress Volunteers her Time and Invests in Community
Judge Childress strives to be a well-rounded woman. She believes that to better serve St. Charles citizens, and to grow as an individual, she must remain plugged in to the communities around her, both professionally and personally. Judge Childress volunteers her time in many ways throughout both her professional and personal communities to give back in honor of the many blessings she has received.
Community Involvement
Foster Adoption Support Team, Volunteer, 2021-present
Boone Center, Development Committee Volunteer, 2021-present
St. Charles Christmas Traditions Gingerbread Village, Judge, 2020 - present
Saint Charles Neighborhood Night Out, Volunteer, 2015-2019
Green Beret Casualty Fund Benefit for Special Forces Association, Volunteer, 2014-2016
Special Olympics Polar Plunge, 2014-2015
Operation: Reveille, Volunteer for homeless veterans, 2014
Personal Memberships
St. Peter Catholic Church, Parishioner
Boone Center Inc., Board Member, 2022 - present
First Capitol Republican Women's Club, Member, 2024 - present
St. Charles County Pachyderm Club, Board Member, 2024, Member, 2020 - present
Missouri Federation of Republican Woman, Parliamentarian, 2023 - 2024, Member, 2022 - present
Federated Republican Women of St. Charles County, Member, 2022 - 2024
St. Charles City Parks and Recreation Board, Board Member, Board Secretary, 2020 - 2024
St. Charles Liquor License Appeals Board, Board Member, 2021 - 2022
Old Town Neighborhood Association, Member
Professional Memberships
The Missouri Bar, Member in Good Standing, 2012 - present
St. Charles County Bar Association, Member, Past President, 2019 - present
St. Louis County Bar Association, Member 2013-2015, 2020 - present
The Missouri DWI Institute, LLC, Co-Founder, Faculty, 2020 - 2024
Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Amicus Committee Member, 2016 - 2024
Missouri Society for Criminal Justice, Member, 2014 - 2024
The DUI Defense Lawyers Association, Board Member, Course Director, Faculty, 2020 - 2024
National College for DUI Defense, Forensic Science Committee, 2020 - 2024
A Teacher Educating Others
Drawing from her extensive courtroom experience and continuing education and training, Ms. Childress has taught lawyers, judges, and law enforcement both locally and nationally regarding law, science, and constitutional rights. She is proud to be sought after to share her knowledge.
Educational Engagements, Media Interviews, & Publications
The Highway Podcast, Featured Guest
Season 1, Episode 9: Sweaty, Nervous, & Afraid,
Season 2, Episode 11: A Defense Attorney, a State Rep, and a Cop Walk into a Bar, Pt 1,
Season 2, Episode 12: A Defense Attorney, a State Rep, and a Cop Walk into a Bar, Pt 2,
Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy, Civilian Instructor
September 10, 2024; April 10, 2024; November 21, 2023; April 7, 2023
St. Louis County Police Academy, Civilian Instructor
Nov 22, 2022; Aug 3, 2018; October 27, 2018; May 4, 2018; August 11, 2017; May 12, 2017
St. Charles County Sheriff's Department Citizen Police Academy 2.0, Civilian Instructor
October 29, 2024; March 19, 2024; May 2, 2023
Sheriff Lewis Investigates, Featured Guest
December 16, 2023, radio broadcast. LISTEN HERE.
Saint Charles County Pachyderm Club, Speaker
Aug 2024: United States Supreme Court Recap, October Term 2023
Oct 2023: A Boots on the Ground Look at Protecting Constitutional Rights in Court
Lewis & Clark Pachyderm Club, Speaker
July 2023: A Boots on the Ground Look at Protecting Constitutional Rights in Court
Saint Louis County Pachyderm Club, Speaker
Nov 2024: All About Missouri's Judges: Popular Vote v Nonpartisan Court Plan
Missouri Solo & Small Firm Conference, Speaker
June 2024: Re-examining "the totality of circumstances" in a DWI arrest
June 2023: Intro to Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
June 2021: What to Do with Your First Criminal Law Case
June 2021: To Blow or Not to Blow: A Crash Course for the Non-DWI Practitioner
June 2017: Handling a Traffic Case Post-Ferguson
The Missouri DWI Institute, LLC
Fall 2023: What Missouri Public Defenders Need to Know About Driver's Licensing Actions
Fall 2022: Police Academey Training for Lawyers: NHTSA DWI Detection &
Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Co-Chair, Faculty
Topic: Session 3: The Legal Environment
Topic: Recognizing Implicit Bias in DWI Investigations
Topic: Session 12: Video and Report Analysis and Trial Prep
Topic: Session 13: Moot Court
Topic: Diligent DWI Defense: Measures Required to Vindicate your Client's Cause
Topic: Session 14: "Testing Subjects" Practice Session: WET LAB
Fall 2021: Co-Chair, Faculty
Topic: Re-Thinking the PBT: Admissibility v Reliability
Summer 2020: Co-Chair, Moderator, Faculty
Topic: Weighing Evidence: Probable Cause for a DWI Arrest
Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Faculty Member, Spring 2022
Topic: Re-Examining the "Totality of Circumstances"
Topic: Trial Skills Workshop
Ohio State Bar Association, Faculty Member
Nov 2024: Beginning an OVI Representation
DUI Defense Lawyers Association
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: CLE Chair, Faculty Member, Spring 2025
Topic: Fourth Freedom: DWI Probable Cause Analysis
Austin, Texas: CLE Chair, Fall 2024
Orlando, Florida: CLE Chair, Spring 2024
Atlanta, Georgia: CLE Chair, Faculty Member, Fall 2023
Topic: Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Exploring Bias & Professionalism in DUI Cases
Nashville, Tennessee: CLE Chair, Spring 2023
Denver, Colorado: Course Director, Faculty Member, Spring 2022
Topic: Cops as Witnesses: Framing Their Character to Shape Your Narrative
Chicago, Illinois: Faculty Member, Fall 2021
Topic: Preparing for Hearings and Trials
Charleston, South Carolina: Faculty Member, Spring 2021
Topic: Improv for Lawyers: Small Group Trial Skills Breakout Session
Bernard Edelman DWI Law & Science Seminar, Assistant Co-Chair, Speaker, Moderator
July 2024: Ignition Interlock 101: Science, Discovery, Defenses, & More
July 2019: Making the Record and Winning Your Case Through Proposed Judgments
July 2018: Defending Against PBTs and No SFST Counties
July 2017: Nuts & Bolts of Admin Hearings and Refusals
July 2016: Ethics: The Second Hour - Electronics and Rule 4
July 2015: Moderator
July 2014: Moderator
Saint Charles County Bar Association, Speaker, 2019
Topic: To Blow or Not to Blow: A Crash Course for the Non-DWI Practitioner
Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Speaker
Jan 2014: Ethical Considerations When Dealing with Difficult People and Situations
American Bar Association, Research Contributor, 2012
"Evaluating Fairness and Accuracy in State Death Penalty Systems: The Missouri Death Penalty Assessment Report, An Analysis of Missouri’s Death Penalty Laws, Procedures, and Practices”
Peer Recognition and Awards
Judge Childress Proudly Earned Recognition in Her Field Prior to the Bench
Unfortunately, many awards in the legal field are for sale and no one is the wiser. However, Judge Childress never paid one penny towards any award she received. Instead, the below awards were truly earned.
Professional Awards
2024 Missouri Rising Stars List, Thomson Reuters, 2024
Women's Justice Award for General Practitioner, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2020
President's Award for Distinguished Service, Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2019
Up & Coming Law Firm Leader Award, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2016