Missouri has two federal judicial districts, the Eastern District and the Western District, and together they have eight divisions. Which court hears a federal criminal case depends on the county where the alleged offense happened.
This guide shows which counties belong to which district and division, where each court sits, and what is the same and different across the state. Vindex Law is admitted in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri and in the Eighth Circuit.
Eastern District
Which counties are in the Eastern District of Missouri?
Three divisions, under 28 U.S.C. § 105(a).
Eastern Division: St. Louis
The City of St. Louis and the counties of Crawford, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Lincoln, Maries, Phelps, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Warren, and Washington.
Northern Division: Hannibal
Adair, Audrain, Chariton, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, and Shelby Counties.
Southeastern Division: Cape Girardeau
Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Ste. Genevieve, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, and Wayne Counties.
Close to home for central Missouri
Several counties near Jefferson City, including Audrain, Montgomery, Gasconade, and Maries, are in the Eastern District, not the Western. A case from Mexico or Hermann is an Eastern District case.
Western District
Which counties are in the Western District of Missouri?
Five divisions, under 28 U.S.C. § 105(b).
Central Division: Jefferson City
Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Hickory, Howard, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, and Pettis Counties. Federal cases from Columbia, Fulton, and Jefferson City are heard here.
Western Division: Kansas City
Bates, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Ray, St. Clair, and Saline Counties.
Southern Division: Springfield
Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Howell, Laclede, Oregon, Ozark, Polk, Pulaski, Taney, Texas, Webster, and Wright Counties.
St. Joseph and Southwestern Divisions
St. Joseph: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Sullivan, and Worth. Southwestern (Joplin): Barton, Barry, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Stone, and Vernon.
Venue
How is it decided which federal court hears my case?
Generally, where the offense was committed.
A federal criminal case is usually brought in the district where the alleged crime took place. Conspiracies and other offenses that cross county or district lines can be charged in any district where part of the offense occurred, which is why a person who lives in one part of Missouri can be indicted in another. A person arrested in one district on a charge from another usually makes a first appearance where they were arrested and is then sent to the charging district.
Where a case is filed affects practical things: how far the person and their family travel for every hearing, which jail holds detained defendants, and which U.S. Attorney’s Office and judges handle the case.
Same and different
Is federal court different in the Eastern and Western Districts?
The law is the same. The offices and the people are not.
- The same law everywhere. Both districts apply the same federal statutes, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Sentencing Guidelines, and Eighth Circuit precedent. Detention hearings, plea agreements, and presentence reports work the same way in both, and appeals from both go to the Eighth Circuit.
- Different U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Each district has its own U.S. Attorney, with its own priorities and its own approach to charging and plea negotiations.
- Different local rules and judges. Each district has local rules covering filing and practice details, and each courthouse has its own judges, magistrate judges, Pretrial Services, and Probation offices.
- Different appointed counsel. Each district has its own Federal Public Defender office and its own panel of appointed private lawyers.
FAQ
Missouri federal court questions
Is Jefferson City in the Eastern or Western District of Missouri?
The Western District. Cole County is in the Western District’s Central Division, which holds court in Jefferson City.
Is Columbia in the Eastern or Western District of Missouri?
The Western District. Boone County is in the Central Division, so federal cases from Columbia are heard in Jefferson City. Callaway County is in the Central Division as well.
How many federal courts are there in Missouri?
Two districts with eight divisions. The Eastern District holds court in St. Louis, Hannibal, and Cape Girardeau. The Western District holds court in Kansas City, Jefferson City, Springfield, St. Joseph, and Joplin.
Can my federal case be moved to a different district?
Sometimes. The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure allow a transfer for trial in limited circumstances, and some cases can be transferred for a plea and sentencing with the agreement of both U.S. Attorneys. These requests are not routinely granted.
Do I need a lawyer admitted in that federal district?
A lawyer must be admitted to practice in the district where the case is pending, or be specially admitted for the case. Vindex Law is admitted in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.
See our federal criminal defense page, or call 573-638-8529.
Talk to us
Federal cases anywhere in Missouri.
If you are under federal investigation or have been charged in either district, call to talk through what comes next.
Attorney advertising. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. This article is general information about Missouri’s federal courts as of October 2026, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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