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Experienced Trial Lawyer
Denise L. Childress is an experienced trial lawyer and the President of Childress Legal, LLC. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri.
Education
Saint Louis University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2012
Truman State University, Bachelor of Science in Justice Systems with a Minor in Spanish, 2009
Nerinx Hall High School, 2005
Continuing Legal Education
One of Ms. Childress's core values is to be as educated in her field as possible because it allows her to strive for excellence in representing her clients. Every year Missouri lawyers are required to have a minimum of 15.0 hours of continuing legal education. Based on her years in practice, Ms. Childress is required to have a minimum of 165 hours, but instead has amassed 784.5 hours of reported continuing legal education.
Not only is education important to Ms. Childress, but she also values ethics and integrity. Every year, Missouri lawyers are required to have a minimum of 3.0 hours of continuing legal education in ethics. Based on her years of practice, Ms. Childress is required to have a minimum of 33 hours, but instead has amassed 87.7 hours of reported continuing legal education in ethics.
A Lawyer Who Teaches Others
Drawing from her extensive courtroom experience and continuing education and training, Ms. Childress teaches other lawyers, judges, and law enforcement both locally and nationally the law and science of driving while intoxicated. She is proud to be the lawyer hired by other lawyers.
Educational Engagements, Media Interviews, & Publications
The Highway Podcast, Featured Guest
Season 1, Episode 9: Sweaty, Nervous, & Afraid,
Season 2, Episode 11: A Defense Attorney, a State Rep, and a Cop Walk into a Bar, Pt 1,
Season 2, Episode 12: A Defense Attorney, a State Rep, and a Cop Walk into a Bar, Pt 2,
Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy, Civilian Instructor
September 10, 2024; April 10, 2024; November 21, 2023; April 7, 2023
St. Louis County Police Academy, Civilian Instructor
Nov 22, 2022; Aug 3, 2018; October 27, 2018; May 4, 2018; August 11, 2017; May 12, 2017
St. Charles County Sheriff's Department Citizen Police Academy 2.0, Civilian Instructor
October 29, 2024; March 19, 2024; May 2, 2023
Sheriff Lewis Investigates, Featured Guest
December 16, 2023, radio broadcast. LISTEN HERE.
Saint Charles County Pachyderm Club, Speaker
Aug 2024: United States Supreme Court Recap, October Term 2023
Oct 2023: A Boots on the Ground Look at Protecting Constitutional Rights in Court
Lewis & Clark Pachyderm Club, Speaker
July 2023: A Boots on the Ground Look at Protecting Constitutional Rights in Court
Missouri Solo & Small Firm Conference, Speaker
June 2024: Re-examining "the totality of circumstances" in a DWI arrest
June 2023: Intro to Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
June 2021: What to Do with Your First Criminal Law Case
June 2021: To Blow or Not to Blow: A Crash Course for the Non-DWI Practitioner
June 2017: Handling a Traffic Case Post-Ferguson
The Missouri DWI Institute, LLC
Fall 2023: What Missouri Public Defenders Need to Know About Driver's Licensing Actions
Fall 2022: Police Academey Training for Lawyers: NHTSA DWI Detection &
Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Co-Chair, Faculty
Topic: Session 3: The Legal Environment
Topic: Recognizing Implicit Bias in DWI Investigations
Topic: Session 12: Video and Report Analysis and Trial Prep
Topic: Session 13: Moot Court
Topic: Diligent DWI Defense: Measures Required to Vindicate your Client's Cause
Topic: Session 14: "Testing Subjects" Practice Session: WET LAB
Fall 2021: Co-Chair, Faculty
Topic: Re-Thinking the PBT: Admissibility v Reliability
Summer 2020: Co-Chair, Moderator, Faculty
Topic: Weighing Evidence: Probable Cause for a DWI Arrest
Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Faculty Member, Spring 2022
Topic: Re-Examining the "Totality of Circumstances"
Topic: Trial Skills Workshop
Ohio State Bar Association, Faculty Member
Nov 2024: Beginning an OVI Representation
DUI Defense Lawyers Association
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: CLE Chair, Faculty Member, Spring 2025
Topic: Fourth Freedom: DWI Probable Cause Analysis
Austin, Texas: CLE Chair, Fall 2024
Orlando, Florida: CLE Chair, Spring 2024
Atlanta, Georgia: CLE Chair, Faculty Member, Fall 2023
Topic: Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Exploring Bias & Professionalism in DUI Cases
Nashville, Tennessee: CLE Chair, Spring 2023
Denver, Colorado: Course Director, Faculty Member, Spring 2022
Topic: Cops as Witnesses: Framing Their Character to Shape Your Narrative
Chicago, Illinois: Faculty Member, Fall 2021
Topic: Preparing for Hearings and Trials
Charleston, South Carolina: Faculty Member, Spring 2021
Topic: Improv for Lawyers: Small Group Trial Skills Breakout Session
Bernard Edelman DWI Law & Science Seminar, Assistant Co-Chair, Speaker, Moderator
July 2024: Ignition Interlock 101: Science, Discovery, Defenses, & More
July 2019: Making the Record and Winning Your Case Through Proposed Judgments
July 2018: Defending Against PBTs and No SFST Counties
July 2017: Nuts & Bolts of Admin Hearings and Refusals
July 2016: Ethics: The Second Hour - Electronics and Rule 4
July 2015: Moderator
July 2014: Moderator
Saint Charles County Bar Association, Speaker, 2019
Topic: To Blow or Not to Blow: A Crash Course for the Non-DWI Practitioner
Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Speaker
Jan 2014: Ethical Considerations When Dealing with Difficult People and Situations
American Bar Association, Research Contributor, 2012 "Evaluating Fairness and Accuracy in State Death Penalty Systems: The Missouri Death Penalty Assessment Report, An Analysis of Missouri’s Death Penalty Laws, Procedures, and Practices”
A Lawyer Recognized by Her Peers
Ms. Childress Proudly Earns Recognition in her Field
Unfortunately, many awards in the legal field are for sale and no one is the wiser. However, Ms. Childress has never paid one penny towards any award she has received. Instead, the below awards were truly earned.
Professional Awards
2024 Missouri Rising Stars List, Thomson Reuters, 2024
Women's Justice Award for General Practitioner, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2020
President's Award for Distinguished Service, Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2019
Up & Coming Law Firm Leader Award, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2016
A Lawyer Involved in Her Community
Ms. Childress Volunteers her Time and Invests in Community
Ms. Childress strives to be a well-rounded woman. Ms. Childress believes that to better represent her clients, and to grow as an individual, she must remain plugged in to the communities around her, both professional and personal. Ms. Childress volunteers her time in many ways throughout both her professional and personal communities to give back in honor of the many blessings she has received.
Professional Memberships
The Missouri Bar, Member in Good Standing, 2012 - present
St. Charles County Bar Association, Member, Past President, 2019 - present
St. Louis County Bar Association, Member 2013-2015, 2020 - present
The Missouri DWI Institute, LLC, Co-Founder, Faculty, 2020 - present
Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Amicus Committee Member, 2016 - present
Missouri Society for Criminal Justice, Member, 2014 - present
The DUI Defense Lawyers Association, Board Member, Course Director, Faculty, 2020 - present
National College for DUI Defense, Forensic Science Committee, 2020 - present
American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys, State Ambassador, 2020 - 2023
Personal Memberships
St. Peter Catholic Church, Parishioner
Boone Center Inc., Board Member, Chair of Community Development Committee 2022 - present
Federated Republican Women of St. Charles County, Member, 2022 - present
St. Charles County Pachyderm Club, Board Member, Member, 2020 - present
Missouri Federation of Republican Woman, Parliamentarian, 2023 - present
St. Charles City Parks and Recreation Board, Board Member, Board Secretary, 2020 - 2024
St. Charles Liquor License Appeals Board, Board Member, 2021 - 2022
Old Town Neighborhood Association, Member
Community Involvement
Foster Adoption Support Team, Volunteer, 2021-present
BCI, Development Committee Volunteer, 2021-present
St. Charles Christmas Traditions Gingerbread Village, Judge, 2020 - present
Saint Charles Neighborhood Night Out, Volunteer, 2015-2019
Saint Charles County Public Defender Overflow Counsel, Pro Bono, 2019-present
Warrenton City Municipal Court Appointed Counsel, 2017-present
Green Beret Casualty Fund Benefit for Special Forces Association, Volunteer, 2014-2016
Special Olympics Polar Plunge, 2014-2015
Operation: Reveille, Volunteer for homeless veterans, 2014
Denise L. Childress
Ms. Childress has spent her career honing her skills in the specific area of DWI law. She also helps individuals with various criminal charges and anything that comes with a ticket and points. She is proud to defend both the Missouri and United States Constitutions every day in court, holding the line between Joe Citizen and the Government. The Government has to get through me before they get to you. In short, if you have had an encounter with a law enforcement officer in any capacity, she has you covered!
Ms. Childress is experienced in handling driver licensing matters: if your driving privileges have been suspended, revoked, disqualified, or denied, Ms. Childress may be able to help you get reinstated or obtain a limited or restricted driving privilege. If you are on a five or ten year denial, the laws may have changed since your denial began and you may now be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege where you weren't before. If you're not sure whether this applies to you, contact Ms. Childress - she may be able to help you start driving again! Ms. Childress has extensive experience with CDL holders whose jobs depend on holding a valid license and is familiar with the unique associated challenges.
She has had the privilege to try many civil DWI cases all over the state of Missouri, appearing on the record in 41 counties. She has cross-examined the Senior Public Health Laboratory Scientist for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, as well as other government expert witnesses.
She's proud to say that she has built a strong reputation in the legal community and is a sought-after educator in her field. In 2020, Ms. Childress founded The Missouri DWI Institute, which launched with a two-day live online conference, The 2020 Missouri DWI Institute. The Missouri DWI Institute's mission is to educate Missouri lawyers, judges, and law enforcement officers on the scientific and technical aspects of DWI law. Ms. Childress has also instructed recruits at the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Saint Louis County Police Academy.
Ms. Childress has argued before the Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Court of Appeals for the Southern District of Missouri and has written two Amicus Briefs in the Missouri Supreme Court on behalf of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“MACDL”).
Originally from St. Louis, Ms. Childress now lives in Saint Charles, Missouri, and enjoys spending time with her three-legged rescue dog, Holly, who is a brindle Plott Hound. .
Ms. Childress obtained her JD from SLU Law and attended Truman State University for undergrad. While in college, Ms. Childress played goalie for Truman’s seventh-ranked varsity soccer team all four years. She also played varsity soccer at her alma mater, Nerinx Hall. In 2008, Ms. Childress spent a month living with a local family in Santa Ana, Costa Rica while attending a Full Immersion Spanish Program at the Centro Linguistico, Conversa.
Ms. Childress enjoys volunteering her time within the community. She volunteers at the Foster Adoption Support Team St. Charles (FAST) food pantry and clothing closet to help support the foster families and the foster children within St. Charles County. She also volunteers as a Board member at Boone Center, Inc (BCI), a nonprofit company proud to provide employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the St. Charles region and beyond. She is also particularly proud to volunteer on the Board of Directors for the St. Charles City Parks and Recreation Department, which provides parks, facilities and programs to enrich the quality of life for residents and visitors, while preserving green space for future generations to enjoy.
