1. Rosenblum Schwartz Fry and Johnson, P.C.
Practice Focus: Criminal defense including federal crimes, drug crimes, DUI/DWI, white collar crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes, juvenile crimes, and appeals.
Case Types Handled: Federal crimes, felonies, misdemeanors, DUI/DWI, drug offenses, white collar crimes, sex crimes, murder, assault, theft, fraud, conspiracy charges, and juvenile offenses.
Legal Services: Trial defense, federal court representation, state court representation, jury trials, preliminary hearings, plea negotiations, motion practice, grand jury representation, appeals, and post-conviction relief.
Background: This 20-attorney firm is led by seasoned criminal defense attorneys Scott Rosenblum, Joel Schwartz, and Matt Fry. Scott Rosenblum has been practicing law for over 36 years since graduating from California Western School of Law in 1983. He is a member of the National Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Association. The firm has built a reputation as one of the premier criminal defense law firms in St. Louis and throughout the United States. The attorneys at the firm are known for meticulous attention to detail and have represented clients in high-profile cases including federal matters. The firm has received recognition for its work in both Missouri and Illinois courts.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Contact: (314) 862-4332 | https://rsflawfirm.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation available. Credit cards accepted. Evening and weekend appointments available.
2. Miller and Hine
Practice Focus: Criminal defense throughout Missouri, including DUI/DWI, drug crimes, violent crimes, theft crimes, domestic violence, and federal offenses.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI/DWI, drug possession, drug distribution, assault, murder, manslaughter, domestic violence, theft, burglary, robbery, weapons charges, and federal crimes.
Legal Services: Trial defense, jury trials, arraignment representation, preliminary hearings, bail hearings, plea negotiations, motion practice including motions to suppress, pretrial conferences, and appeals.
Background: Miller and Hine is a St. Louis criminal defense firm with 50 years of combined legal experience. The attorneys work from the beginning of a case to gather information about the circumstances surrounding the arrest and discuss all available options with their clients. The firm regularly appears in courts throughout St. Louis and surrounding areas. The attorneys visit clients in jail at no cost to conduct criminal case evaluations. The firm handles cases from investigation through trial and appeal, providing guidance through the Missouri criminal justice process.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Contact: (314) 597-9763 | (314) 413-2053 | https://www.millerandhinelaw.com
Consultation: Free 24/7 consultation available to discuss criminal charges, bond, and representation.
3. Krupp and Raboin
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, personal injury, wrongful death, and sexual assault victim representation throughout St. Louis and St. Charles counties.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI/DWI, domestic violence, assault, drug offenses, juvenile offenses, SVU cases, and traffic violations.
Legal Services: Trial defense, jury trials, bench trials, criminal prosecution and defense of domestic violence, assault, and drug cases, juvenile offense representation, and motion practice.
Background: James Krupp is a Trial Attorney with more than 30 years of experience practicing law in Missouri. He is from St. Louis and attended DeSmet High School, then Benedictine and Quincy Colleges. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University School of Law. Ryan Krupp is a trial attorney who focuses on personal injury, wrongful death, and criminal defense cases. Ryan graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law with an emphasis in advocacy and was inducted into the Order of the Barristers. He previously worked for both the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and Johnson County District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted domestic violence, assault, drug cases, SVU cases, juvenile offenses, and other felonies and misdemeanors. Ryan currently serves as Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (2024-2025) and teaches the National Mock Trial team at Saint Louis University School of Law as an adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy. He has been selected to the Missouri and Kansas Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers.
Location: St. Louis and St. Charles County, Missouri
Contact: (314) 835-9999 | https://kruppraboin.com
Consultation: Free consultation available.
4. JCS Law (John C. Schleiffarth, P.C.)
Practice Focus: Criminal defense representing clients charged with serious criminal charges in both state and federal court, including DUI/DWI defense.
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, federal crimes, DUI/DWI, drug offenses, violent crimes, theft crimes, and white collar crimes.
Legal Services: Trial defense, federal court representation, jury trials, motion practice, plea negotiations, and DUI/DWI defense.
Background: John Schleiffarth practices criminal defense law in the Saint Louis area. He represents clients charged with serious criminal charges in both state and federal court. He is a member of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National College of DUI/DWI Defense, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and an active member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan Saint Louis. He provides personalized defense strategies and is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of his clients.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Contact: (314) 315-4946 | https://www.jcslaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available.
5. Travis Noble, P.C.
Practice Focus: DUI/DWI defense throughout Missouri and Illinois, focusing on complex and challenging drunk driving cases.
Case Types Handled: DUI/DWI, driving while intoxicated, implied consent violations, refusal cases, felony DWI, repeat DWI offenses, and related traffic matters.
Legal Services: Trial defense, DMV administrative hearings, license suspension appeals, jury trials, motion practice including challenging breath and blood tests, field sobriety test analysis, and plea negotiations.
Background: Travis Noble, P.C. has developed a reputation for fighting Missouri’s and Illinois’ most difficult DWI cases. The firm focuses specifically on DUI/DWI defense, bringing specialized knowledge to each case. The firm has been recognized by Super Lawyers and provides representation throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. The attorneys understand the technical aspects of breath testing, blood testing, and field sobriety tests, and use this knowledge to challenge the State’s evidence in DWI prosecutions.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Contact: (314) 450-7849 | https://www.traviscnoble.com
Consultation: Immediate free consultation available.
Criminal Defense Regulations in Missouri
Missouri attorneys must be admitted to The Missouri Bar after passing the Missouri Bar Examination. The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, operating under the Missouri Supreme Court, handles attorney discipline and enforces the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct.
Missouri does not offer specialty certifications in criminal law through the state bar association. However, attorneys may obtain certifications from national organizations, and some focus their practice exclusively on criminal defense.
Missouri operates a statewide public defender system through the Missouri State Public Defender System. This system provides legal representation to indigents accused of crimes. Eligibility is determined based on income and assets according to guidelines established by the Missouri Public Defender Commission. Unlike county-based systems, Missouri’s public defender offices are funded and administered at the state level.
Attorney advertising in Missouri is governed by the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct. Attorneys must avoid false or misleading communications and cannot make direct solicitations of prospective clients when a significant motive is pecuniary gain.
Missouri requires attorneys to complete 15 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) annually, with at least two hours in ethics or professional responsibility. Criminal defense attorneys typically complete additional CLE in their practice area.
The attorney-client privilege in Missouri is protected by statute and common law, providing strong protections for confidential communications between attorneys and their clients.
Missouri classifies felonies into five categories: Class A (10-30 years or life imprisonment), Class B (5-15 years), Class C (up to 10 years), Class D (up to 7 years), and Class E (up to 4 years). Misdemeanors are classified as Class A (up to 1 year in jail), Class B (up to 6 months), Class C (up to 15 days), and Class D (fine only).
Missouri’s speedy trial requirements provide that defendants in custody must be brought to trial within 180 days of arraignment. Defendants released on bail or recognizance generally have different timelines based on court scheduling.
Bail in Missouri is governed by statute and court rules. Defendants have a constitutional right to reasonable bail except in capital cases or cases involving certain violent felonies where the facts are evident or the presumption great. Judges consider factors including the nature of the offense, defendant’s ties to the community, prior criminal history, and risk of flight.
Missouri has the death penalty for capital murder cases, though executions are relatively infrequent. Capital defense in Missouri requires specialized training and experience, and attorneys must meet specific qualifications to represent defendants in death penalty cases.
Expungement in Missouri is governed by RSMo section 610.140. Under current law, a person may petition for expungement after waiting three years from completion of sentence for felonies or one year for misdemeanors. The petitioner must have no pending charges and must have satisfied all obligations including fines and restitution. Missouri allows expungement of up to two felony offenses and three misdemeanor offenses over a lifetime. Certain offenses are not eligible for expungement, including Class A felonies, most violent felonies, sex offenses requiring registration, offenses resulting in death, and domestic assault offenses. Recent legislation effective January 1, 2025 reduced waiting periods from seven years to three years for felonies and from three years to one year for misdemeanors, and reduced the waiting period for arrest record expungement from three years to 18 months.
Missouri has persistent offender and prior offender sentencing enhancements that allow courts to impose longer sentences for defendants with prior felony convictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where will my criminal case be heard if I am arrested in St. Louis?
A: Criminal cases in St. Louis may be heard in different courts depending on where the offense occurred and the nature of the charges. If you are arrested within the City of St. Louis, your case will typically be heard in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court (City of St. Louis Circuit Court) located at 1114 Market Street. If you are arrested in St. Louis County, your case will be heard in the 21st Judicial Circuit Court (St. Louis County Circuit Court) located at 105 South Central Avenue in Clayton. Federal criminal charges are heard in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri located at 111 South Tenth Street in downtown St. Louis. The Municipal Court of the City of St. Louis handles certain ordinance violations within city limits. You can check the status of your case through Missouri Case Net, the state’s online case information system.
Q: What is the Missouri expungement process and when does the new law take effect?
A: Missouri’s expungement law was significantly updated effective January 1, 2025. Under the new law (SB 754), the waiting period for felony expungement has been reduced from seven years to three years from completion of sentence, and misdemeanor expungement has been reduced from three years to one year. The waiting period for arrest record expungement has been reduced from three years to 18 months. To file for expungement, you must file a petition in the court in the county where you were charged or found guilty. You must have paid all fines, completed probation or parole, and have a clean record for the required waiting period. Missouri law limits lifetime expungements to two felony offenses and three misdemeanor offenses. If your crimes were part of the same course of conduct, they may count as only one offense for expungement purposes. Certain offenses remain ineligible, including Class A felonies, violent felonies, sex offenses requiring registration, domestic assault, and offenses where death was part of the offense. The new law also provides courts more discretion in weighing victim testimony against the presumption that expungement is warranted.
Q: What are the penalties for a first-time DWI conviction in Missouri?
A: A first-time DWI in Missouri is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. However, most first-time offenders do not receive jail time if they complete the conditions of probation. Your driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days, though you may be eligible for a Restricted Driving Privilege (hardship license) after 30 days if you install an Ignition Interlock Device. You may also be required to complete a Substance Abuse Traffic Offender Program (SATOP). If your blood alcohol content was 0.15% or higher, you may face enhanced penalties. A second DWI within five years is a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and a five-year license revocation. A third DWI can be charged as a felony. Missouri also has an implied consent law, and refusing a breath or blood test results in a one-year driver’s license revocation for a first refusal.
Q: How does the Missouri court appointment process work if I cannot afford an attorney?
A: If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney, you have the right to court-appointed counsel under the Sixth Amendment. In Missouri, the Missouri State Public Defender System provides representation to indigent defendants in most criminal cases. At your arraignment or first court appearance, you will be asked whether you need a court-appointed attorney. If you indicate that you cannot afford counsel, you will be asked to complete a financial affidavit to determine eligibility based on income, assets, and household size. The court uses federal poverty guidelines and other factors to assess eligibility. If you qualify, a public defender will be assigned to your case. Due to caseload constraints, the public defender system may have limited resources, but appointed attorneys are fully licensed and experienced in criminal defense. For federal cases, the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Missouri provides representation, or the court may appoint a panel attorney from the Criminal Justice Act panel.
Q: What happens at a preliminary hearing in Missouri and do I have to testify?
A: A preliminary hearing in Missouri is held in felony cases to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed and that you committed it. The hearing typically takes place within a few weeks of your arraignment. The State must present evidence and witnesses to establish probable cause, which is a lower standard than the beyond a reasonable doubt standard required at trial. You have the right to be present, to have your attorney cross-examine the State’s witnesses, and to present evidence. However, you are not required to testify at a preliminary hearing, and in most cases your attorney will advise against testifying because any statements you make can be used against you at trial. If the court finds probable cause, your case will be bound over to circuit court for trial. If the court does not find probable cause, the charges may be dismissed, though the prosecutor may still seek a grand jury indictment. The preliminary hearing is also a valuable discovery opportunity for your defense attorney to learn about the State’s evidence and witnesses.