---
title: "Denise Childress | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-childress-judge-missouri-10th-judicial-circuit-court-mo"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Denise Childress

Missouri 10th Judicial Circuit Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Missouri 10th Judicial Circuit Court
- State: Missouri
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### media equipment advance approval

Scope: statewide

Missouri Court Operating Rule 16 requires advance approval for media equipment used for courtroom coverage and allows the judge to control the number and setup of media personnel and equipment.

Evidence excerpt: Failure to obtain advance approval for equipment may preclude its use in the proceeding.

[Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### device use in courtroom

Scope: statewide

Missouri courtroom device use for media coverage is not generally permitted unless authorized by the operating rule, a local court rule, or the judge presiding in the proceeding.

Evidence excerpt: No person may use any device capable of media coverage in a courtroom or court clerk's office unless specifically authorized

[Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### audio video recording

Scope: statewide

Missouri allows limited video and audio recording for media coverage under COR 16 technical limits, subject to judicial approval and courtroom controls.

Evidence excerpt: Not more than one videographer, using a single device, shall be permitted in the courtroom during a judicial proceeding at any time.

[Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/bluebook/2025-2026/5_Judicial.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/bluebook/2025-2026/5_Judicial.pdf)
- [Missouri Secretary of State Official Manual official judicial roster](https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/bluebook/2025-2026/5_Judicial.pdf)
- [Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-childress-judge-missouri-10th-judicial-circuit-court-mo",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-childress-judge-missouri-10th-judicial-circuit-court-mo",
      "name": "Denise Childress | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Denise Childress, Missouri 10th Judicial Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-07-26",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-childress-judge-missouri-10th-judicial-circuit-court-mo#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-childress-judge-missouri-10th-judicial-circuit-court-mo#judge",
      "name": "Denise Childress",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-childress-judge-missouri-10th-judicial-circuit-court-mo",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Missouri 10th Judicial Circuit Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/bluebook/2025-2026/5_Judicial.pdf"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Missouri",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/missouri"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Denise Childress",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-childress-judge-missouri-10th-judicial-circuit-court-mo"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge Childress emphasizes fairness, integrity, and adherence to the law, maintaining independence, impartiality, and judicial courage in her decisions

### Education

- Juris Doctorate with a Certificate in Criminal Litigation from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2012
- a Bachelor of Science in Justice Systems with a Minor in Spanish from Truman State University in 2009.

### Additional information

- On the ballot for the August 4, 2026, Republican primary and the November 3, 2026, general election for a four-year term beginning January 2027.
- Appointed by Governor Michael L. Parson on October 5, 2024, to fill a vacancy in the 11th Judicial Circuit and officially took office on January 2, 2025.
- Has practiced law in 44 Missouri counties and the appeals court
- handling a wide variety of cases
- Before her judicial appointment, Denise Childress was an experienced trial lawyer and owner of Childress Legal, LLC, licensed to practice law in Missouri.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Missouri Court Operating Rule 16.04, Technical](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-b0a3408119d84bbcc3619511) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=354). Collected 2026-07-26.
