Criminal cases in Hillsborough County are heard at the downtown Tampa courthouse complex: the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 East Twiggs Street, and the courthouse annex, where most criminal cases are called. Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI, and criminal traffic all move through this complex, and if you were arrested anywhere from Tampa to Plant City, this is where your case will be decided. I defend cases here regularly, and this page covers the building, the schedule, and what your court dates mean.
The building and the trip downtown
The Edgecomb Courthouse sits in the middle of downtown Tampa, which means the trip is half the battle. There is no free parking lot: use one of the nearby garages or metered street parking, and budget more time than you think you need, because downtown traffic, garage lines, and the morning security queue stack on top of each other. Arriving thirty to forty five minutes early is the safe play.
Security screening works like the airport: metal detector, X-ray belt, no weapons of any kind. Phones are generally allowed but must be silenced, and each judge controls their own courtroom rules.
Check your paperwork for the building before you walk in: most criminal courtrooms sit in the annex rather than the main courthouse, and the two are a short walk apart. Probation offices are in the main courthouse building, which matters when you report there during or after a case.
Jail, first appearance, and bond
People arrested in Hillsborough County are booked at the Orient Road Jail, and first appearances happen by video from the jail into courtroom CR17, usually within 24 hours. Those held longer term are generally moved to the Falkenburg Road Jail. At first appearance the judge reviews probable cause and sets bond. If the bond is out of reach, a motion to reduce it is often the first fight in the case, and it is a fight worth having with a lawyer rather than alone.
Two things families should know. Jail calls are recorded and monitored, and the recordings can become evidence, so the facts of the case never belong on a jail phone. And before you pay a bond: a bail bond agency’s fee is generally non-refundable under Florida law, while a cash bond posted directly with the jail or the Clerk may come back at the end of the case, less court costs.
Arraignment, and why you may not need to be there
The arraignment is the formal reading of the charge and the entry of a plea. In most cases, once I am hired, I file a written plea of not guilty and waive your appearance, which means you keep your workday and skip the courtroom entirely. The case then moves into discovery, where I pull the State’s evidence, depose the officers, and in a DUI case, tear into the breath or blood testing records. That is where cases are won, not at the podium on arraignment day. For the hearings that follow, misdemeanor clients can often stay home while I appear on a filed waiver; felony clients should expect the court to require them in person at every hearing unless the judge allows otherwise.
Tracking your case and your dates
Hillsborough court records and hearing dates are available through the Hillsborough County Clerk’s website, and I recommend checking your case the day before every hearing, because courtrooms and times change. Missing a date can mean a warrant and, in driving cases, action against your license. If a date has already been missed, move fast: a prompt motion can often clear a warrant before it becomes an arrest at a traffic stop.
Common Questions
Do I have to appear at my arraignment in Hillsborough County?
Usually not once you have a lawyer. In most misdemeanor and many felony cases I file a written plea of not guilty and waive your appearance, and the case moves straight into the discovery phase where it is won or lost.
Where do I park for the Hillsborough courthouse?
The George E. Edgecomb Courthouse is in downtown Tampa, so unlike Pinellas there is no free lot. Use the nearby parking garages or metered street parking and budget extra time. Arriving thirty to forty five minutes early is the safe play downtown.
Where do first appearances happen in Hillsborough County?
First appearances happen by video from the jail into courtroom CR17, usually within 24 hours of arrest. People are booked at the Orient Road Jail, those held longer term are generally moved to the Falkenburg Road Jail, and at the hearing a judge reviews probable cause and sets bond.
What should I bring to court?
Your paperwork, a photo ID, and patience. Leave anything that could be treated as a weapon at home, silence your phone, and dress business casual. If a judge ordered you to bring proof of something, such as a completed class, bring the original and a copy.
Related reading
See my Hillsborough County defense page for how I handle cases here, the Hillsborough DUI penalties page if your case is a DUI, and the diversion and treatment courts page for programs that can resolve a case without a conviction.
If you have a date at the Hillsborough courthouse, call or text me at (727) 761-4318 before you go. In many cases I can enter a written plea and appear for you, so your first trip downtown never happens. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
