City of St. Louis Circuit Court Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

CRITICALCriminal cases

Filed non-evidentiary motions must be scheduled for a hearing.

Non-evidentiary motions filed must be scheduled for a hearing;

CRITICALCriminal cases

Evidentiary motions must be scheduled and heard before trial.

Evidentiary motions must be scheduled and heard before trial.

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Before presenting a motion in limine, counsel must make a good-faith effort to resolve disputed issues with opposing counsel.

Before presenting a motion in limine to the Court, counsel shall make a good faith effort to resolve disputed issues with opposing counsel.

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Before presenting any motion to the Court, counsel must make a good-faith effort to resolve disputed issues with opposing counsel.

Prior to presenting any motion to the court, counsel shall make a good faith effort to resolve disputed issues with opposing counsel.

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Before scheduling a case on the website, the attorney signing up must consult and confirm the availability of all attorneys and non-represented parties.

BEFORE scheduling a case on this website, the attorney signing up the matter MUST consult and confirm the availability of all attorneys and/or non-represented parties on the case.

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Before scheduling a case on this website, the attorney signing up the matter must consult and confirm the availability of all other attorneys on the case.

Before scheduling a case on this website, the attorney signing up the matter must consult and confirm the availability of all other attorneys on the case.

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Before presenting a motion in limine, counsel must make a good-faith effort to resolve disputed issues with opposing counsel.

Before presenting a motion in limine to the Court, counsel shall make a good faith effort to resolve disputed issues with opposing counsel.

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Motions in limine should be scheduled as soon as possible, and no later than the week before trial, by contacting the courtroom clerk or judge.

Subject to Local Rule 33, motions in limine are scheduled by contacting the courtroom clerk or judge. These matters should be scheduled as soon as possible but not later than the week before trial.

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Before scheduling a case on the website, the attorney signing it up must consult all other attorneys on the case and confirm their availability.

Before scheduling a case on this website, the attorney signing up the matter must consult and confirm the availability of all other attorneys on the case.

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When scheduling a motion, get together with opposing counsel and choose a date that works for everyone.

Get together with opposing counsel and pick a date that works for everyone; and,

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Pretrial motions, including motions requiring an evidentiary hearing such as motions to suppress, will be heard at the pretrial conference.

All pretrial motions will be heard at the pretrial conference, including any matters requiring an evidentiary hearing—i.e.—motions to suppress.

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Before scheduling a matter on the website, the attorney signing it up must consult the other attorneys and confirm their availability.

Before scheduling a case on this website, the attorney signing up the matter must consult and confirm the availability of all other attorneys on the case.

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Before presenting any motion, counsel must make a good-faith effort to resolve disputed issues with opposing counsel.

Prior to presenting any motion to the court, counsel shall make a good faith effort to resolve disputed issues with opposing counsel.

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Dispositive motions must be scheduled and heard at least 60 days before a Division 19 trial setting, or may not be heard absent good cause.

Pursuant to the Revised Docket Procedures of Division 1 and Civil Motion/Equity Divisions 17 and 20, effective January 1, 2026, all dispositive motions shall be scheduled and heard (in the Motion/Equity Divisions) at least 60 days prior to a trial setting in Division 19 or the motion may not be heard unless circumstances establish good cause why that was not possible.

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Dispositive motions shall be heard more than 60 days prior to a trial setting.

Dispositive motions shall be heard more than 60 days prior to a trial setting.

WARNING

Motions should be scheduled as soon as possible, preferably by the week before trial; unless otherwise scheduled, the clerk sets them for 1:30 p.m. on the Thursday before trial.

Subject to Local Rule 33, all motions, including motions in limine, may be scheduled by contacting the courtroom clerk. These matters should be scheduled as soon as possible and preferably no later than the week before trial. Unless otherwise specifically scheduled, such motions shall be scheduled by the courtroom clerk for 1:30 pm on the Thursday preceding the day the trial is scheduled.

WARNING

Criminal motions expected to take 10 to 20 minutes may be heard on the Court’s regular Friday criminal docket.

Criminal motions of ordinary length, i.e., 10 to 20 minutes, may be heard during the Court’s regular Friday criminal docket.

WARNING

The movant's attorney must schedule a motion on a day mutually convenient to the opposing parties unless circumstances establish good cause otherwise.

Movant's attorney shall schedule the motion on a day that is mutually convenient for the opposing party or parties unless circumstances establish good cause why that was not possible.

WARNING

These matters should be scheduled no later than the week before trial.

These matters should be scheduled no later than the week before trial.

INFO

Subject to Local Rule 33, other motions, including motions in limine, may be scheduled at a Division 19 status conference, which generally occurs 30 days before trial.

Subject to Local Rule 33, all other motions, including motions in limine, may be scheduled at a status conference in Division 19 which will generally occur 30 days prior to the trial setting.