St. Louis Courthouses
Last updated: October 3, 2013
Missouri is the "Show Me" State. Every day, judges and juries ask the parties to a case to "show me" the evidence. You won't be showing anything if you don't know how to get to the correct St. Louis court. FindLaw is here to help. This guide will tell you where to go and offer tips on how to get there. In some cases -- and this is especially helpful for folks from out of town -- this guide will also give you tips on how to make the most of your trip. When you're done with this article you might not be an expert navigator on the level of Lewis & Clark, but you will know how to get around.
Court Structure
St. Louis has both local courts and federal courts. The local courts are more commonly used. Your case will begin in a trial level court -- often called a "circuit court." There is one circuit court for each county, so St. Louis County has a circuit court. In addition, the City of St. Louis has a circuit court because the city is officially independent from the county.
In the federal court system, your case will begin in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The Eastern District hears civil, criminal, bankruptcy, and tax cases.
State Courts
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St. Louis Circuit Court
10 N. Tucker Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63101
Tel: (314) 622-4433Local residents use this facility for a variety of functions. In addition to ordinary court functions, this building serves as the site of the public law library, Sheriff's Office, and other administrative offices. The Courtside Snack Shop is conveniently on site for a quick bite to eat. Don’t worry about driving to this courthouse. There are Metrolink stops nearby at both 8th and Pine and Busch Stadium.
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St. Louis City Municipal Court
1520 Market Street Suite #1120
St. Louis, MO 63103
Tel: (314) 622-3558There's metered street parking out in front of the building, but it gets taken pretty quickly. A lot of folks prefer to park in the garage on S. 16th street, between Clark Avenue and Walnut Street. Enter through the glass doors on the 15th Street side of the building.
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St. Louis County Circuit Court
7900 Carondolet, Rm. G122
Clayton, MO 63105
Tel: (314) 615-8029This facility handles Civil, Criminal, Probate, Traffic, and Family court matters. It's normal to need comfort food after a long day in court. Many people enjoy C.J. Muggs after finishing up. It's also a good place to watch the Cards chase the pennant (again!). There’s courthouse parking behind the court building on Bonhomme Avenue and in a garage on Shaw Park Drive. Some visitors prefer the lot at Central Avenue and Carondolet.
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Family Court of St. Louis County
501 S. Brentwood
Clayton, MO 63105
Tel: (314) 615-4400You can't miss this large building, but if you're not careful, your turn off of Forest Park Pkwy. will sneak up on you. The left side of the lot is for visitors, but the Court warns that the parking lot fills quickly.
Federal Courts
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Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District
815 Olive Street, Rm. 304
St. Louis, MO 63101
Tel: (314) 539-4324This court is located in the beautiful Old Post Office building and is committed to being accessible to everyone. The accessible entrance is on the 9th St.-side of the building. Visit the court's website for a map of parking structures available to all.
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Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse
111 S. 10th Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
Tel: (314) 244-7900The Eagleton courthouse handles several kinds of federal trial-level cases including: civil law, criminal law, and Tax Court. If you're visiting from outside of the city, make your trip memorable with a treat from Gelateria Tavolini. It's about ten blocks away, but worth the trip!