McMillan, Jane-Ashley

Christopher E. McGraugh graduated with an undergraduate degree from St. Louis University in 1983 and received a Juris Doctoris from St. Louis University School of Law in 1987.  In 1987, he began his practice of law with the Missouri State Public Defender System in the Trial Division.  In 1990, Chris was promoted to the Capital Litigation Division for the Eastern Division of Missouri and represented indigent defendants at the trial level when the death penalty was being sought in judicial circuits throughout Missouri.

In 1992, Chris left the Missouri State Public Defender’s System and began working for Leritz, Plunkert & Bruning, P.C. doing general trial practice located in downtown St. Louis.  In 1995, Chris became a principal of Leritz, Plunkert & Bruning, P.C. where he has maintained a general trial and appellate practice which includes both civil and criminal cases. 

Chris has practiced in over twenty-seven Judicial Circuits in the State of Missouri and has tried close to ninety criminal and civil lawsuits to jury verdict in both State and Federal Courts.  Besides being a member of the Missouri Bar, he is admitted to the United States District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Missouri, United States District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of Illinois, the United States District Court of the Northern District of Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

In addition to his background in civil litigation, criminal litigation and appellate practice, Chris served as a member of the Missouri Bar Client Security Fund Committee (2001-2006), Chairman for the Grievance Committee for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (1994-1996), a hearing officer for the City of St. Louis Department of Public Safety Nuisance Abatement Division, and was elected Missouri Bar Representative to the 22nd Judicial Circuit Non-Partisan Nomination Committee (2003-2005), member of 22nd Judicial Circuit Judicial Evaluation Committee (2008 to present).

Chris has an AV Peer Review Rating which is the highest ranking achievable from Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers.  He has been profiled in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer Magazines (2006 Ed. to present).  He has authored Law Review articles for the Bar Journal of St. Louis (Fall of 1996) and has been a guest lecturer for the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office, St. Louis University School of Law, Washington University School of Law, University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law and the University of Missouri.  He is the President of the Board of the Thomas Moore Society and serves on numerous charitable boards of directors throughout the St. Louis area.