Division 5 - Chris McDonough

Born in St. Louis County, Missouri, Judge McDonough is a graduate of the St. Louis University School of Law (J.D.); Fontbonne University (M.B.A.); and Maryville University (B.S.). Judge McDonough is also a graduate of the Harvard Law School Judicial Executive Leadership Program.

Prior to taking the bench, Judge McDonough was in private practice, initially with the St. Louis office of a large global law firm, and then as founding member of The McDonough Law Firm, LLC. In addition to his private practice, he served as a prosecuting attorney and municipal judge for several municipalities in the 11th, 12th and 21st Judicial Circuits.

He was elected as an associate circuit judge in 2020, appointed to serve as circuit judge by Governor Michael L. Parson in 2022, and elected to a six-year term in 2024.

Judge McDonough serves as the Presiding Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit and is assigned to handle civil and criminal cases.

He also serves as a member of the Executive Council of the Judicial Conference of the State of Missouri, a member of the Circuit Court Budget Committee, and as the circuit judge member of the Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges created by the Missouri constitution.