A protest outside the Edwardsville courthouse last month brought renewed attention to Madison County Judge Andrew Carruthers, whose name appeared in the recently released Jeffrey Epstein files. Judge Carruthers explained he served as local counsel on a civil collection matter for Epstein more than a decade ago, before Epstein’s crimes were widely known. Carruthers said he never met, spoke to, or corresponded with Epstein, and only communicated through another attorney.
Carruthers, then a new associate at HeplerBroom, filed paperwork to collect a $250,000 judgment for Epstein, but the case ended when the debtor went bankrupt. After learning about Epstein’s crimes in 2019, Carruthers continued his legal career and was appointed associate judge in 2021. He now presides over asbestos and probate cases, earning high ratings from attorneys.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s January release of the Epstein files included Carruthers’ name among legal documents, along with many prominent figures. Legal experts note that lawyers often represent controversial clients and that legal representation does not imply endorsement of a client’s actions.
Epstein also had ties to the St. Louis area, including flights through Cahokia and aircraft serviced at Midcoast Aviation. Notably, one flight in 2001 included Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Virginia Giuffre. Maxwell is now serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Giuffre, a survivor of Epstein’s abuse, died in April 2025.
Carruthers’ future on the bench will be decided by circuit judges in 2029.