--- title: "Willie J. Epps, Jr | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/willie-j-epps-jr-missouri-us-magistrate" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-08" --- # Willie J. Epps, Jr U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri · U.S. Magistrate Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri - State: Missouri - Role: U.S. Magistrate Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-29 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Willie J. Epps, Jr. is the Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, appointed in 2017 and serving in Jefferson City, Missouri - 2014–2017: Associate General Counsel & Head of Litigation, Edward Jones - 2013–2014: Partner, Dowd Bennett LLP - 2006–2013: Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP - 2003–2006: VP & Deputy/Chief Compliance Officer, Charter Communications - 1999–2000: Assistant Special Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice, Waco Investigation - 1995–1999: Judge Advocate & Captain, U.S. Air Force JAG Corps ### Education - Harvard Law School — J.D. (1995) ### Additional information - Magistrate, District Court, W.D. Missouri, 2017-present - In a 2025 American Bar Association “Bench Talk” interview, Judge Epps reflected on his journey from military service to corporate law to the bench, and offered practical advice for litigants and attorneys on conducting effective court proceedings - 2000–2003: Solo practitioner at The Epps Law Firm LLC. ## 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 ### civil remote testimony Scope: courtwide In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards. Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### criminal recording and broadcasting Scope: courtwide Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception. Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom. [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=81) - [Official roster](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=81) - [U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=81) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9337/willie-j-epps-jr/) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9337/willie-j-epps-jr/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9337/willie-j-epps-jr/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/willie-j-epps-jr-missouri-us-magistrate", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/willie-j-epps-jr-missouri-us-magistrate", "name": "Willie J. Epps, Jr | KnowJudges", "description": "Willie J. Epps, Jr, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-08", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/willie-j-epps-jr-missouri-us-magistrate#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/willie-j-epps-jr-missouri-us-magistrate#judge", "name": "Willie J. Epps, Jr", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/willie-j-epps-jr-missouri-us-magistrate", "jobTitle": "U.S. Magistrate Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=81", "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9337/willie-j-epps-jr/" ] }, { "@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": "Willie J. Epps, Jr", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/willie-j-epps-jr-missouri-us-magistrate" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.