Brian Wimes graduated from Longview Community College with an associate degree and, in 1990, from the University of Kansas with a bachelor"s degree in political science. He graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1994.
He briefly worked for a local school district prior to entering law school. From 1994 to 1995, he worked as an advisor for the Missouri Prison Bureau. From 1995 to 2001, he worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Jackson County Prosecutors Office.
From 2001 to 2007, he served as Drug Court Commissioner in Jackson County.
In 2007 he was appointed a judge on the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri, which position he held until his confirmation as a District Judge. On September 22, 2011, President Obama nominated Wimes for District Judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western District of Missouri to the seat vacated by Judge Nanette Kay Laughrey.
He received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on November 14, 2011 and his nomination was reported to the floor favorably by voice vote on December 15, 2011. On April 23, 2012, the Senate confirmed his nomination by a vote of 92 ayes to 1 nay, Senator Lee casting the lone nay vote.
He received his commission on April 30, 2012, and was sworn in the same day.
