Hours of Operation:

The Intake Office is located on the second floor and open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Courthouse hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Courthouse Access:

The public entrance is on North Florida Avenue. All individuals entering the building are required to proceed through a metal detector and have any bags, packages, purses, etc. examined through an x-ray machine. Electronic devices, including cellular phones, lap top computers, sound/recording equipment, photographic/broadcasting equipment, are prohibited absent a court order. A standing order pertaining to attorney utilization of personal electronic devices in the courthouse has been issued. Please visit our Attorney Resource page for a copy of the order. Firearms, knives, pocket knives, chemical sprays and other weapons not specified are also prohibited.

Agency Contact Information:

Courthouse Access:

The Courthouse is fully wheelchair accessible with ramps on both sides of the main entrance, elevators, and a wheelchair height counter in the Intake Office. Please contact the Clerk’s Office if further accommodations need to be made.

Parking Availability

Disabled jurors may refer to the Florida Statutes by visiting www.flsenate.gov. In addition, you may contact the Jury Staff for additional information on disabled parking in this area.

Parking Availability:

There is no designated parking for the Tampa Courthouse. Metered street parking is available as well as a number of City of Tampa and privately owned park & pay lots in the immediate vicinity. Individuals called for Jury Duty should contact the Jury Administrator for instructions on reimbursement for parking and refer to the map for acceptable parking areas.

Jury Information Sheet

For the convenience of our jurors, a copy of the information sheet that was mailed to you along with summons can be found by clicking here.

Parking Information For Jurors Only:

The Federal Courthouse is at the intersection of Florida Avenue and Polk Street, easily accessible from Interstate 275 at Ashley Drive/Exit 44. Jurors must park in the William F. Poe Garage, located at 802 North Ashley, or park at the Twiggs St. Garage located at 901 East Twiggs Street. Bring your parking ticket with you for validation. The Courthouse opens to the public at 7:30am. Disabled jurors may refer to the Florida Statutes by visiting www.flsenate.gov. In addition, you may contact the Jury Staff for additional information on disabled parking. For a map with parking facilities, please click here.

Juror Attire & Conduct:

Jurors are expected to conduct themselves with reserve and courtesy, and when appearing at Court, to dress appropriately to preserve the dignity of the Court.

Drop Box Information:

The depository box may be used to date stamp and drop off pleadings at anytime during regular courthouse hours and is located outside the Intake Office on the second floor. The depository box is not for filing emergency or sealed pleadings nor should checks or money be deposited in the box. Please file these types of pleadings with an Intake clerk.

Tampa Historical Information:

The Old Federal Courthouse, pictured left, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Completed in 1905, the building was designed by James Knox Taylor, the Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury in Washington, D.C who designed hundreds of public buildings. A Beaux Arts style building reflecting the classic roots of early twentieth century architecture, the building was originally designed for the U.S. Post Office, but also served as a courthouse and customhouse. From 1984 to 1998, this building was used exclusively to house the Tampa Division of the Middle District.

In 1998 the district court moved to a new, larger building two blocks north on Florida Avenue, the Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse. A Tampa attorney, Sam Gibbons fought on the beaches of Normandy and then served his country as a member of Congress for seventeen terms where he was recognized as a leader in free trade and protecting the elderly. Offering panoramic views from the upper floors of downtown Tampa and Tampa Bay, the Tampa courthouse houses the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court as well as the chambers of a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

1905 Courthouse Photograph Source: National Archives, RG 121-BS, Box 16, Folder M, Print 1

Text Source: Middle District of Florida Historical Society