Criminal Charges?
CALL NOW
CALL NOW
Tampa Courthouses: A Plain-Language Guide to Where Your Court Date Is
If you or a friend or family member has a court date in Tampa, the first question is often a simple one: which building? Downtown Tampa has several courthouses within a few blocks of each other, each with its own name and address, and court paperwork may not make it clear where to go. This guide gives a short, plain-language overview of each Hillsborough County courthouse and the federal courthouse in Tampa, with links to our detailed pages and to each court’s official website.
The Frey Law Firm, LLC is at 625 E. Twiggs St. in downtown Tampa, right across the street from the Pat Frank Courthouse and a short walk from the Edgecomb Courthouse, the Courthouse Annex and the federal courthouse. Attorney Ron Frey has been practicing law for over two decades. Call or text (813) 775-2276 for a free, confidential initial consultation by phone, video or in person.
This page is a general guide only. Courtroom assignments and locations can change, so follow the instructions in your court notice or any court order. If you have questions about where a specific court appearance will be held, contact the court or the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court directly.
On this page
- George E. Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs St.
- Courthouse Annex, 401 N. Jefferson St.
- Pat Frank Courthouse, 419 N. Pierce St.
- Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse, 801 N. Florida Ave.
- Plant City Courthouse, 301 N. Michigan Ave.
- Before Your First Court Date: Jail, First Appearance and Arraignment
- Courthouses Outside Hillsborough County
- Tampa Courthouse FAQ
George E. Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs St.
What’s there: The Edgecomb Courthouse is the main courthouse for Hillsborough County’s 13th Judicial Circuit. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court also lists customer service at this address.
Getting in: The entrance at 800 E. Twiggs St. is the main public entrance to the downtown courthouse complex, including the Courthouse Annex next door. Everyone goes through security screening, so plan extra time.
Links: Edgecomb Courthouse guide · 13th Judicial Circuit court locations
Courthouse Annex, 401 N. Jefferson St.
What’s there: The 13th Judicial Circuit lists this building as the Criminal Courthouse Annex. Most of Hillsborough County’s circuit (felony) and county (misdemeanor) criminal courtrooms are here, including first appearance.
Getting in: The Annex entrance on Jefferson Street is for attorneys, law enforcement and court personnel. Members of the public enter at 800 E. Twiggs St., go through security, and cross the walkway over East Twiggs Street into the Annex. Allow time for security and the walk over.
Links: Courthouse Annex guide · 13th Judicial Circuit court locations
Pat Frank Courthouse, 419 N. Pierce St.
What’s there: The official court and Clerk listings call it the Pat Collier Frank Courthouse. Inside are the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit, Clerk of Court services such as Official Records recording, civil traffic infraction hearings and county civil courtrooms. Criminal traffic cases, such as DUI, are criminal cases and are generally heard in other courtrooms.
Getting there: The Frey Law Firm is right across the street at 625 E. Twiggs St., so Attorney Ron Frey can often meet with you before or after court. Offices and courtrooms move from time to time, so check your notice before you go.
Links: Pat Frank Courthouse guide · Who prosecutes cases in Hillsborough County · Hillsborough County Clerk of Court locations
Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse, 801 N. Florida Ave.
What’s there: Federal cases in Tampa are heard here. It is the Tampa Division courthouse of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, which serves Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties. Federal cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, not the local State Attorney, and they follow different rules from state cases.
Getting in: Everyone goes through security screening, and phones and electronics may be restricted. The courthouse is a few minutes’ walk from the office.
Links: Gibbons federal courthouse guide · Federal defense in the Middle District of Florida · U.S. District Court, Tampa Division
Plant City Courthouse, 301 N. Michigan Ave., Plant City
What’s there: Not every Hillsborough County case is heard downtown. The Plant City Courthouse handles the county’s East Division cases, including misdemeanors, criminal traffic cases such as DUI, and Plant City ordinance violations. Felony cases from the Plant City area are generally heard in downtown Tampa. The Clerk of Court also has a customer service office here.
Links: Plant City Courthouse guide · 13th Judicial Circuit court locations
Before Your First Court Date: Jail, First Appearance and Arraignment
Many cases start before anyone sets foot in a courthouse. Most people arrested in Hillsborough County are booked at the Orient Road Jail, 1201 Orient Road, run by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. A person who stays in custody generally sees a judge at first appearance, often the morning after the arrest, usually by video from the jail while the defense attorney is in the courtroom. After formal charges are filed, the next step is generally an arraignment.
Arrested downtown, for example during a convention, game or festival? An arrest in downtown Tampa, including at the Tampa Convention Center, is still generally a Hillsborough County case heard in these same courthouses.
- Orient Road Jail
- First appearance in Hillsborough County
- Bond and bail in Hillsborough County
- Arraignment in Hillsborough County
- Arrested at the Tampa Convention Center
Courthouses Outside Hillsborough County
Attorney Ron Frey also handles cases across the bay and to the north. If your notice lists one of these buildings, see the page for it:
- Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th St. N., Clearwater. Our guide · Official site
- Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center, 38053 Live Oak Ave., Dade City. Our guide · Official site
- West Pasco Judicial Center, 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey. Our guide · Official site
- Second District Court of Appeal, Bernie McCabe Courthouse, St. Petersburg. Appeals from Hillsborough County cases generally go here. Our guide · Official site
Talk With Attorney Ron Frey Before Your Court Date
Court notices can list a building, a division or a courtroom you don’t recognize, and offices and courtrooms move from time to time. Check your notice, and if anything is unclear, call before you go. Attendance at court dates is often required and should be assumed mandatory unless the court or your attorney explicitly says otherwise.
Court websites can help with addresses and general information, but don’t rely on the internet or AI for advice about your own case. Every case is different. Attorney Ron Frey can review your situation case by case and explain what to expect, and the office is a short walk from the downtown courthouses if you’d like to meet before or after court.
Call or text (813) 775-2276 for a free, confidential initial consultation by phone, video or in person.
Tampa Courthouse FAQ
What is the main courthouse in Tampa?
For Hillsborough County state cases, the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs St. is the main courthouse for the 13th Judicial Circuit and the main public entrance to the downtown complex. Federal cases are heard at the Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse, 801 N. Florida Ave.
Is the Pat Frank Courthouse the same as the Edgecomb Courthouse?
No. They are separate buildings in the same downtown area. The Pat Frank Courthouse is at 419 N. Pierce St., and the Edgecomb Courthouse is at 800 E. Twiggs St.
How do I get into the Courthouse Annex?
Members of the public enter at 800 E. Twiggs St., go through security, and cross the walkway over East Twiggs Street into the Annex. The Jefferson Street entrance is for attorneys, law enforcement and court personnel.
Is every Hillsborough County case heard in downtown Tampa?
No. The Plant City Courthouse at 301 N. Michigan Ave. handles East Division cases such as misdemeanors and criminal traffic cases. Your notice will say where to go.
Where are federal cases in Tampa heard?
At the Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse, 801 N. Florida Ave., the Tampa Division courthouse for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
My notice lists a building or address I don’t recognize. What should I do?
Some court listings use slightly different names for the same buildings. This page is a general guide only, so follow your court notice and any court order, and contact the court or the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court directly with questions about where a specific appearance will be held. You can also call or text (813) 775-2276 and we can help you sort out where you need to be.
How close is The Frey Law Firm to the courthouses?
The office at 625 E. Twiggs St. is right across the street from the Pat Frank Courthouse and a short walk from the Edgecomb Courthouse, the Annex and the federal courthouse.