He received a Juris Doctor from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in 1976.

[2][3] Following a stint in private practice in Cape Girardeau, Limbaugh was elected as Prosecuting Attorney of Cape Girardeau County at the age of 26 in 1978, serving one four-year term before returning to private practice in 1982.

On December 6, 2007, President George W. Bush nominated Judge Limbaugh to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri to fill the seat vacated by Donald J. Stohr.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 10, 2008, received his commission on August 1, 2008, and was succeeded on the Missouri Supreme Court by Judge Zel Fischer.

Limbaugh currently lives in Cape Girardeau with his wife, the former Marsha D. Moore.