United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri

About This Court

The Western District of Missouri is a federal trial court within the Eighth Circuit, covering the western portion of Missouri. The district encompasses major metropolitan areas including Kansas City as well as rural communities across western and central Missouri, giving the court a varied docket that reflects both urban and agricultural constituencies.

The court sits in several cities across the district, with Kansas City serving as the primary location for court operations and the clerk's office. Jefferson City, Springfield, and Joplin also host court proceedings, reflecting the geographic breadth of the district.

The Western District of Missouri has historically been associated with significant civil rights litigation and complex commercial cases arising from the Kansas City metropolitan area. The court also handles a substantial volume of federal criminal matters, including drug trafficking and firearms cases consistent with regional law enforcement priorities.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Missouri.

Divisions

Western Division (Kansas City), Central Division (Jefferson City), Southern Division (Springfield), Southwestern Division (Joplin)

Caseload

The court handles a broad mix of federal civil and criminal matters, with notable concentrations in commercial litigation, civil rights cases, and federal criminal prosecutions involving drug and firearms offenses. The Kansas City metropolitan area generates significant corporate and employment litigation as well.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, which generally requires membership in good standing with the Missouri bar or another state bar and compliance with the court's local rules for admission. Pro hac vice admission is available for attorneys not otherwise admitted to the district.

Clerk's Office

400 East 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106

(816) 512-5000

Active Judges 11

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Megan Benton	Donald J. Trump	2026	Vanderbilt University Law School
Stephen Bough	Barack Obama	2014	University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Gary Fenner	William J. Clinton	1996	University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Fernando Gaitan	George H.W. Bush	1991	University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
M. Harpool	Barack Obama	2014	University of Missouri School of Law
David Kays	George W. Bush	2008	University of Arkansas School of Law
Roseann Ketchmark	Barack Obama	2015	University of Kansas School of Law
Mary Phillips	Barack Obama	2012	University of Missouri School of Law
Howard Sachs	Jimmy Carter	1979	Harvard Law School
Ortrie Smith	William J. Clinton	1995	University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Dean Whipple	Ronald Reagan	1987	University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law

Local Rules

54 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 35

Rule	Title
1.1	DEFINITIONS
15.1	MOTIONS TO AMEND AND FOR LEAVE TO FILE
16.1	SCHEDULING OF CIVIL ACTIONS
16.2	PRETRIAL CONFERENCES
16.3	EXTENSION OF DEADLINES FIXED IN SCHEDULING ORDER
16.4	ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
26.1	DISCOVERY SCHEDULING
26.2	THE FORM OF ANSWERS AND RESPONSES TO CERTAIN DISCOVERY REQUESTS AND DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
26.3	NON-FILING OF DISCOVERY DOCUMENTS
30.1	DEPOSITIONS
3.1	CIVIL COVER SHEET
3.2	CIVIL DIVISIONAL VENUE
37.1	DISCOVERY MOTIONS
38.1	DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
40.1	PRETRIAL FILINGS
47.1	CHALLENGE TO JURY PANEL
5.1	MANDATORY ELECTRONIC FILING
51.1	PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS AND VERDICT FORMS
54.1	BILL OF COSTS
55.1	DEFAULT JUDGMENT
56.1	SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTIONS
58.1	ENTRY OF JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS
58.2	SETTLEMENT OF JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS BY THE COURT
66.1	RECEIVERSHIPS
7.0	WRITTEN MOTIONS
7.1	DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATION INTERESTS
72.1	DUTIES AND POWERS OF MAGISTRATE JUDGES
74.1	PROCEDURE FOR REVIEWING MAGISTRATE JUDGES' ORDERS
79.1	WITHDRAWAL OF FILES
79.2	CUSTODY OF EXHIBITS
80.1	COURT REPORTERS' TRANSCRIPTS
83.10	SANCTIONS FOR LATE NOTIFICATION OF SETTLEMENT
83.7	FILING FEES FOR INDIGENT PERSONS
9.1	SOCIAL SECURITY PRACTICE
9.2	PETITIONS FOR POST-CONVICTION RELIEF FILED BY PERSONS IN CUSTODY

Criminal Rules 10

Rule	Title
99.0	APPLICABILITY OF LOCAL CIVIL RULES
99.1	BAIL AND SURETIES
99.10	PAYMENT OF FIXED SUM IN LIEU OF APPEARANCE IN SUITABLE TYPES OF MISDEMEANOR CASES
99.2	ESTABLISHING PANEL OF EXPERTS AND PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINATION OF MENTAL COMPETENCY
99.3	SPECIAL GRAND JURIES
99.4	REPORT BY PERSONS ADMITTED TO BAIL
99.5	INDUCING VIOLATIONS OF, AND MODIFYING, CONDITIONS OF BAIL, PROBATION, OR SUPERVISED RELEASE
99.7	"FREE PRESS FAIR TRIAL" DIRECTIVES
99.8	GUIDELINE SENTENCING
99.9	CRIMINAL MATTERS HANDLED BY MAGISTRATE JUDGE

General Rules 4

Rule	Title
83.11	ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES
83.3	COURTHOUSE DECORUM
83.4	PHOTOGRAPHING, BROADCASTING AND TELEVISING AROUND COURTHOUSES
83.9	ASSIGNMENT OF CASES

Attorney Rules 5

Rule	Title
83.1	PARTICIPATION BY FORMER LAW CLERKS IN CASES PENDING BEFORE THE JUDGE WHO PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED THEM
83.2	WITHDRAWAL OF COUNSEL
83.5	BAR ADMISSION
83.6	ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE
83.8	PRACTICE BY STUDENT INTERNS ENROLLED IN LAW SCHOOL

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 8th Circuit

District of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota District of Nebraska Omaha, Nebraska District of North Dakota Fargo, North Dakota District of South Dakota Sioux Falls, South Dakota Eastern District of Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas Eastern District of Missouri St. Louis, Missouri Northern District of Iowa Cedar Rapids, Iowa Southern District of Iowa Des Moines, Iowa Western District of Arkansas Fort Smith, Arkansas