Combs Waterkotte is the leading federal criminal defense firm in Missouri and Southern Illinois. The federal legal system is complex, with unique rules, procedures, and potentially severe penalties that differ significantly from state-level cases. At Combs Waterkotte, we understand the immense pressure you’re under. We’ve dedicated our practice to providing aggressive, knowledgeable defense for individuals navigating these high-stakes federal cases.
To empower you with critical information and help you understand the landscape of federal criminal defense, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of essential resources. From the foundational laws and statutes to court rules and forms, this page is designed to be a valuable starting point for anyone seeking to comprehend the federal justice system. While these resources are incredibly helpful, remember that they are no substitute for the strategic counsel of an experienced federal criminal defense attorney.
We encourage you to explore these links, educate yourself, and then contact Combs Waterkotte for a free, confidential consultation to discuss the specifics of your case. Our team is ready to put our extensive experience in federal courts across Missouri and Southern Illinois and vast resources to work for you. Call us now at (314) 900-HELP.
Combs Waterkotte Federal Criminal Defense Resources
Valuable federal legal resources, including definitions, expert articles, and answers to common questions to help you understand your legal situation.
- Legal Glossary
- Federal Criminal Defense Blog
- Federal Criminal Defense FAQs
- Federal Criminal Defense Case Results
- Free Legal Books
- Federal Crime Statutes:
Federal Courts
There are two U.S. District Courts in Missouri:
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
The Western District is broken into five divisions:
- Western Division (Kansas City): Includes the counties of Bates, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Ray, St. Clair, and Saline.
- Southwestern Division (Joplin): Comprised of the counties of Barton, Barry, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Stone, and Vernon.
- Southern Division (Springfield): Includes the counties of Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Howell, Laclede, Oregon, Ozark, Polk, Pulaski, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright.
- St. Joseph Division: Covers the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Sullivan, and Worth.
- Central Division (Jefferson City): Comprised of the counties of Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Hickory, Howard, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, and Pettis.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
The Eastern District consists of three divisions:
- Eastern Division (St. Louis): Covers the counties of Crawford, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Lincoln, Maries, Phelps, Saint Charles, Saint Francois, Saint Louis, Warren, Washington, and St. Louis City.
- Northern Division (Hannibal): Includes the counties of Adair, Audrain, Chariton, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Shelby, and Scotland.
- Southeastern Division (Cape Girardeau): Comprised of the counties of Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Sainte Genevieve, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, and Wayne.
There are two U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of Illinois:
- East St. Louis: Includes the counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Fayette, Jersey, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington
- Benton: Covers the counties of Alexander, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, and Williamson
Federal Appellate Courts
Missouri:
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- Hears appeals from: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas.
- Appeal Preparation Info
Illinois:
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- Hears appeals from: Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.
- Appeal Preparation Info
Federal Court Forms
Find a national federal court form. National court forms can be used in all federal courts. Each federal court maintains their own local court forms.
- Attorney Forms
- Criminal Forms
- CJA Forms
- Bankruptcy Forms
- Other Forms
- U.S. Court of Appeals Record Request Form
- Notice of Appeal from a United States Court
- Petition for Review of an Order of Decision of an Agency, Board, Commission, Office, Bureau
Federal Court Criminal Forms
Locate specific criminal forms used in federal court, like summons, subpoenas, bail information, bond orders, and warrants.
- Criminal Complaint
- Waiver of a Preliminary Hearing
- Search & Seizure Warrant
- Summons in a Criminal Case
- Subpoena to Testify at a Hearing or Trial in a Criminal Case
- Subpoena to Testify Before Grand Jury
- Subpoena to Produce Documents, Information, or Objects in a Criminal Case
- Subpoena to Testify at a Deposition in a Criminal Case
- Commitment to Another District
- Appearance Bond
- Bail Information Sheet
- Surety Information Sheet
- Motion for Sentence Reduction Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(a)
- Order Setting Conditions of Release
- Additional Conditions of Release
Federal Prisons
Missouri:
- Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP) Springfield
- Security Level: Administrative
- Directions
Illinois:
- FCI Marion
- Security Level: Medium
- Directions
- FCI Greenville
- Security Level: Medium
- Directions
- FCI Pekin
- Security Level: Medium
- Directions
- FCI Thomson
- Security Level: Low
- Directions
Other Federal Criminal Defense Resources
- Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure: Along with 18 U.S.C. Part II, these are the official rules governing federal criminal proceedings.
- Federal Rules of Evidence: The official rules governing the admissibility of evidence in federal courts.
- Federal Sentencing Guidelines Manual: Essential for understanding sentencing calculations.
- Federal Judicial Center (FJC): Offers educational programs, research, and publications related to federal courts, including appellate jurisdiction.
- PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records): For accessing federal court case information. This is a PAID service.
- SCOTUSblog: Excellent resource for U.S. Supreme Court news, arguments, and opinions, highly relevant for federal appellate issues.
