What to Expect at the Hillsborough County Courthouse (2026)

Updated November 12, 2026

If you have a court date in a Hillsborough County criminal case, the hearing itself may take five minutes, while parking, security, and finding the right courtroom can take far longer. Our office sits two blocks from the courthouse, and our attorneys walk over for client hearings. As founder of The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., a Tampa criminal defense firm, and a former Chief Operations Officer of the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, where I oversaw a staff of over 100 attorneys, I have spent more than 25 years in Hillsborough County courtrooms. This guide covers what our attorneys tell every client and family member before their first trip downtown.

Where are criminal cases heard in Hillsborough County?

Most criminal cases in Hillsborough County, felonies and misdemeanors alike, are heard in the Courthouse Annex at 401 N. Jefferson Street. Civil and family cases are heard mainly in the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse next door at 800 E. Twiggs Street. Your court notice lists the courtroom number; check it before you leave home so you know which floor to head for.

To get to the Annex, enter through the Edgecomb Courthouse, go through security, and take the second-floor skybridge across to the Annex. The Annex is an older building and shows its wear, but it has elevators. Give yourself a few extra minutes the first time, because the route is not obvious.

The building is busy. In the county’s 2024-25 fiscal year (October 2024 through September 2025), the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court reported 20,659 new felony cases and 12,447 new misdemeanor cases, according to the Clerk’s monthly outputs report for September 2025. Most of those cases have several hearings, so morning dockets fill courtrooms and hallways, and the security line grows with them.

What else is inside the Hillsborough County Courthouse?

The Edgecomb Courthouse has more than courtrooms, and several of its services save a second trip downtown. The first floor has an ATM, the Clerk of Court’s customer service windows, and the Hillsborough County Probation office, which is run through the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. If you need photocopies or need to print a document for your hearing, the business center on the sixth floor of the Edgecomb Courthouse can do it.

Our attorneys also appear in courtrooms across the 13th Judicial Circuit and in Pinellas and Pasco Counties. For more on how our team handles cases in this courthouse, see our Hillsborough County criminal defense attorney page.

Where should you park for the Hillsborough County Courthouse?

The closest large garage is the City of Tampa’s Twiggs Street Garage at 901 E. Twiggs Street, a short walk from the courthouse entrance. The City lists 890 spaces there, including 22 ADA spaces, at $2 per hour with a $14 daily maximum on non-event days, payable through mobile apps including ParkMobile, according to the City of Tampa parking garage directory. It is also the cheapest City garage downtown.

Private surface lots fill in the gaps. 717 Parking runs several lots around the courthouse, including one at 567 E. Twiggs Street, and Hillsborough County operates the Pierce Street Garage at 319 N. Pierce Street. Rates at private lots change and are posted at the entrance, so read the sign before you pull in, and keep your receipt.

If those are full, two more City garages are within walking distance: the Fort Brooke Garage at 107 N. Franklin Street and the William F. Poe Garage at 802 N. Ashley Drive, both $3 per hour with an $18 daily maximum on non-event days. Metered street parking is paid with the ParkMobile app at the City’s posted downtown rate of $4 for the first hour and $3 for each hour after. A hearing that was supposed to take 20 minutes can run all morning, and you cannot step out of a courtroom to feed a meter while your case is pending, so a garage is the safer choice.

Why should you get to the courthouse early?

Get there early because the security line can be very long, and the judge will not wait for you. On a busy morning, dozens of defendants, family members, witnesses, jurors, and lawyers arrive at once, and every one of them goes through the same screening. Our attorneys tell clients to be through security at least 30 minutes before the hearing time on their notice, which usually means arriving downtown 45 minutes to an hour early, and earlier on your first visit.

Do not count on sympathy if you are late. A judge working through a full docket calls cases in order, and a defendant who is not in the courtroom when the case is called risks a warrant, often called a capias, and the loss of the bond already posted. Under section 843.15, Florida Statutes, willfully failing to appear is itself a crime. “The parking garage was full” and “the line was long” are explanations judges hear every day, and they rarely change the outcome.

Arriving early also gives you time to find your lawyer, use the restroom, read the judge’s rules posted on the courtroom door, and settle your nerves before your name is called.

What happens at courthouse security?

Everyone entering the courthouse goes through a security screening similar to an airport checkpoint. Expect to put your belongings through an X-ray machine, take off your belt, empty your pockets, and be checked with a hand wand. Sometimes you will also be asked to remove your shoes.

Attorneys who show a Florida Bar card can usually keep their belts on, so your lawyer may get through faster than you. Agree in advance on a meeting spot inside, such as outside the courtroom, instead of trying to find each other in the screening line.

Leave weapons and anything sharp in the car or at home. That includes guns, knives, scissors, pocket tools, and pepper spray. Under the 13th Judicial Circuit’s courthouse security order, Administrative Order S-2026-047, everyone entering through the public doors is subject to search, anyone who refuses a search is denied entry, and a dangerous item must be surrendered before you are allowed in. A concealed weapons license does not help: under section 790.06(12)(a), Florida Statutes, a license does not authorize carrying a weapon or firearm into any courthouse or courtroom.

What should you wear to court in Hillsborough County?

Wear clean, conservative clothing, the kind you would wear to a job interview or a religious service. Do not wear tank tops, shorts, or flip-flops, and leave hats in the car; a judge can ask you to leave the courtroom if you are not dressed appropriately. Our post on what to wear to court covers jeans, sandals, and other common questions.

Can you bring children into a Hillsborough County courtroom?

Whether children may sit in the courtroom depends on the judge. Check the judge’s posted practices and procedures in the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Judicial Directory before your court date, and read the sign on the courtroom door when you arrive, because many judges post their rules there. Our attorneys recommend arranging childcare whenever possible; our post on bringing a child to court explains why.

Are Hillsborough County courtrooms recorded?

Yes. Most criminal courtrooms in Hillsborough County are recorded. According to the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Circuit Court Reporting page, misdemeanor, criminal traffic, and domestic violence cases are digitally recorded, and felony court uses either digital recording or a court stenographer, depending on the division.

Courtroom microphones can pick up more than the person speaking at the lectern. A whispered comment at the defense table, or a conversation in the gallery, may end up on the recording. Talk about your case only with your lawyer, in private, and never in the hallway, elevator, or skybridge, where witnesses, officers, and alleged victims in other cases are often standing nearby.

Florida courts have long allowed recorded jail conversations into evidence. In Allen v. State, 636 So. 2d 494 (Fla. 1994), deputies placed a murder suspect in a holding cell next to his co-defendant, and a hidden camera and microphone recorded the two men incriminating themselves. The Florida Supreme Court held the recording was admissible, explaining that voluntary jailhouse conversations between inmates do not carry the same privacy protection as other communications. The lesson for court day is simple: if you are in custody, or talking to someone who is, assume you are being recorded.

Do not record anything in the courtroom with your own phone. Recording court proceedings without the judge’s permission can lead to contempt of court. Keep your phone silenced and put away while court is in session.

What happens when your case is called?

A Hillsborough County criminal docket usually sets many cases at the same start time, so you may wait an hour or more before your case is called. Check in with your lawyer as soon as you arrive. When your name is called, you stand at the lectern with your attorney, and you speak only when the judge asks you a question.

If you need an interpreter, tell your lawyer before the court date. In Hillsborough County, interpreters for criminal hearings are arranged through the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Court Interpreter Center, which has staff Spanish interpreters and freelance interpreters for more than 20 other languages; its number is (813) 272-5947. Our post on the right to an interpreter in court explains how the request works. Our firm has Spanish-speaking staff, and attorney Jean-Luc Adrien speaks Spanish, Haitian Creole, and French.

Many hearings are short status checks. Others are decision points, such as a bond hearing or a plea offer that has a deadline. Our attorneys explain before each court date which kind of hearing it is and what the client should expect to happen.

How do you request a disability accommodation at the courthouse?

Contact the 13th Judicial Circuit’s ADA Coordinator, preferably at least 7 days before your court date. According to the Circuit’s ADA page, you can call (813) 272-7040, use 711 for the hearing or voice impaired line, email ADA@fljud13.org, or submit the ADA Accommodations Request form. A request can also be made in another written format or orally.

At no cost, the court provides assistive listening devices, qualified ASL and other interpreters, accessible formats such as large print or Braille, qualified readers, and, under special conditions, real-time transcription. The ADA office does not provide transportation or legal advice, and it cannot postpone a hearing or change how a case proceeds; those requests go to the judge by written motion, which your lawyer files.

What if your hearing is on Zoom?

Some Hillsborough County hearings are held by Zoom, and the same rules of courtroom conduct apply. Each judge’s Zoom link, meeting ID, and password are posted at the top of the judge’s profile in the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Judicial Directory, and the Circuit’s remote court hearings page sets these rules:

• Join 15 minutes before the scheduled time; the court starts calling cases on time, and waits can be long.
• Dress as if you were going to court, and no hats.
• Use your full real name on screen, not a nickname or the device default.
• Keep your microphone muted unless you are speaking, and do not eat, drink, or type.
• Do not join from a moving vehicle.
• Do not record, photograph, or screenshot the hearing; it is prohibited.
• To join by phone, dial 1-786-635-1003 and enter the meeting ID and password.

Confirm with your lawyer whether you are allowed to appear by Zoom. A judge may require a defendant to appear in person for certain hearings, and a Zoom hearing is still a court appearance: missing it carries the same consequences as missing a hearing in the courthouse.

When is the Hillsborough County Courthouse closed?

The courts close on the holidays the 13th Judicial Circuit lists on its About the Court page. The remaining 2026 closures are Thanksgiving Day (November 26), the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 27), Christmas Eve (December 24), Christmas Day (December 25), and December 31. If weather or an emergency may close the courthouse, check the Circuit’s website, call the court’s public information line at (813) 272-5894, and call your lawyer. Do not assume your hearing is canceled until the court or your lawyer tells you so.

What happens if you miss court in Hillsborough County?

Missing court usually leads to a warrant for your arrest, often called a capias, and the loss of any bond you posted. Under section 843.15, Florida Statutes, a person released on bail who willfully fails to appear commits a third-degree felony if the underlying case is a felony and a first-degree misdemeanor if it is a misdemeanor. That new charge comes on top of the original case.

Reminders work. A 2020 study published in Science found that a redesigned court summons and text message reminders reduced failures to appear by 13 to 21 percent in New York City. Put your court date in your phone with two alerts, one the day before and one the morning of, and confirm the date and courtroom with your lawyer. You can also look up your case and court dates on the Hillsborough Clerk’s HOVER court records search.

If you are running late or something goes wrong on the way, call your lawyer right away. A lawyer who knows you are on your way can often ask the judge to hold the case.

Where can you eat near the Hillsborough County Courthouse?

There is a snack bar on the second floor of the courthouse that serves hot food, snacks, salads, and fountain drinks, which helps on a long docket day. Do not plan to eat in the courtroom. Beyond the snack bar, downtown Tampa has dozens of places within walking distance, most of them west of the courthouse along Twiggs Street, Cass Street, and Franklin Street. Many open only for breakfast and lunch on weekdays, so check hours before you go.

Where can you get coffee near the courthouse?

Coffee is the easiest thing to find downtown, and several spots open early enough to grab a cup before security.

Where can you get bagels or breakfast near the courthouse?

Where can you get lunch near the courthouse?

Where can you get a beer after court?

If the day is over and you want to decompress, several bars are a short walk from the courthouse. If your case has a no-alcohol condition of bond or probation, skip this list; a drink after court can become a violation.

What should you bring to court?

Bring what you need to get through the day and nothing that will slow you down at security. This checklist is what our attorneys give clients before a court date:

Frequently asked questions

What is the address for criminal court in Tampa?

Most Hillsborough County criminal courtrooms are in the Courthouse Annex at 401 N. Jefferson Street, which you reach through the Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs Street. The Brancato Law Firm’s office is two blocks away, and our attorneys can meet you at the courthouse and walk you to the right courtroom.

How early should I get to the Hillsborough County Courthouse for a criminal hearing?

Arrive downtown 45 minutes to an hour before your hearing time, and a full hour for a trial or a first visit, because the security line can be very long. Our attorneys at The Brancato Law Firm build that time into every client’s court-day plan because parking, security, and the skybridge walk add up.

Does my lawyer have to go through courthouse security?

Yes, but attorneys who show a Florida Bar card can usually keep their belts on, so they often clear the line faster. At The Brancato Law Firm, we set a meeting spot with each client before the court date so no one is searching for each other inside.

Can family members watch a criminal hearing in Hillsborough County?

Yes. Criminal hearings are generally open to the public, so family members can sit in the gallery unless the judge limits the courtroom for a specific reason. Family presence can matter at sentencing and at bond hearings, and our attorneys at The Brancato Law Firm will tell you which hearings are worth bringing family to.

Is there food inside the Hillsborough County Courthouse?

Yes. A snack bar on the second floor sells hot food, snacks, salads, and fountain drinks. The Brancato Law Firm tells clients facing a long docket to eat before court, because leaving the courtroom can mean missing the moment their case is called.

What happens if I am late for court in Tampa?

If you are not there when your case is called, the judge can issue a warrant and revoke your bond, and a willful failure to appear is a separate crime under section 843.15. Call The Brancato Law Firm right away if you are running late; we can often let the court know you are on the way.

Is there an ATM at the Hillsborough County Courthouse?

Yes. There is an ATM on the first floor of the Edgecomb Courthouse, the same floor as the Clerk’s customer service windows. The Brancato Law Firm still recommends bringing a card and a phone with the ParkMobile app, so a long security line is the only thing standing between you and the courtroom.

Where can I make copies or print documents at the courthouse?

The business center on the sixth floor of the Edgecomb Courthouse handles photocopies and printing. Our attorneys at The Brancato Law Firm ask clients to send us any documents for a hearing ahead of time, so we can bring copies for the judge and the prosecutor and nothing is left to the morning of court.

Talk with our attorneys before your court date

For more about our defense strategies, visit our Hillsborough County criminal defense page.

A court date goes better when you know what the hearing is for and what the judge may decide. Our attorneys will review your case, tell you what to expect in that courtroom, and meet you at the courthouse. Call The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., founded by Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Rocky Brancato, at (813) 727-7159 before your next hearing. Call us at any hour; our office is two blocks from the courthouse. Our firm has Spanish-speaking staff, and attorney Jean-Luc Adrien speaks Spanish, Haitian Creole, and French.

The Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
620 E. Twiggs Street, Suite 205, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 727-7159
Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties

The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. is a Tampa-based criminal defense practice. We are not affiliated with any other Brancato-named law firms.