Attending Court

At first appearances and at bond hearings, the Court will determine whether a defendant qualifies for a bond, the appropriate bond amount, and any additional conditions which are needed to protect public safety and insure that the defendant appears for court.

Too frequently, a defendant is charged with an act of domestic violence. Those acts of domestic violence can be precursors to fatalities resulting from domestic violence. Our office aggressively seeks the relinquishment of firearms from domestic violence defendants through bond conditions, plea agreements, terms of probation, and entry into diversion programs. This applies to any defendant who is prohibited by law from owning a firearm; and any defendant who has been charged based on probable cause with having committed an act of domestic violence. Through the Disarming Domestic Abusers (DDA) initiative, the State Attorney's Office utilizes information obtained by law enforcement to identify defendant's at first appearance who are likely to possess or have custody of a firearm. By requesting the relinquishment of the firearm to law enforcement as a condition of release, we hope to reduce domestic violence, help victims overcome the overwhelming, paralyzing fear that comes with having an abusive, armed partner, and potentially save lives.

Effective January 1, 2024, Florida Statute §907.041 was amended to require the State to file Motions for Pre-Trial Detention on defendants arrested for certain dangerous crimes. Florida law continues to allow the State to also pursue pre-trial detention for other offenders who meet certain criteria and who pose a danger to the community. These laws provide a mechanism for keeping certain dangerous offenders in custody pending resolution of their cases while still providing them with due process. Once the motion is filed, the court must set the motion for hearing within 5 days. At the hearing, the State seeks to establish that the defendant meets the criteria to be held without bond pending a resolution of the case.

A subpoena is a court order to appear and testify. Failure to comply with a subpoena may result in criminal penalties. The subpoena contains important information about the case in which you are being called to testify. If the subpoena was issued by our office, Susan S. Lopez’s name will appear under the signature line. Your subpoena will identify which case you are being called to testify in; the case number and the name of the defendant appear at the top of the subpoena. The subpoena will also tell you which courtroom to appear and what date and time. Most criminal trials and hearings in Hillsborough County are held at the Courthouse Annex which is entered through security at 800 E. Twiggs St. Some east county misdemeanor cases are heard in the Plant City Courthouse at 301 N. Michigan Ave. Your subpoena will provide the address you should appear at.

If the subpoena is for a jury trial and your subpoena is for an entire week, the assistant state attorney will probably not be able narrow the date or time until the Monday morning of trial week.

The name and contact information for the assistant state attorney assigned to handle the case are also located on the subpoena.
If you have received a subpoena from a defense attorney, the attorney’s name and contact information will appear under the signature line.

You may contact the assigned assistant state attorney or our witness aid program if you have additional questions. Witness Aid can be contacted at (813)274-1566 or [email protected].

Parking near the courthouse is limited. We are unable to validate parking. There is limited street parking available near the courthouse, as well as a City of Tampa parking garage located at 901 E. Twiggs St. and various privately-owned paid lots in the area.

The Plant City Courthouse has a free public parking lot.

A witness appearing in court on a criminal case may be entitled to a witness fee and mileage reimbursement as authorized by Florida Statute §92.142. A witness is entitled to a $5 witness fee and .06 cent per mile (round trip) from the address listed on subpoena to court house. In order to be compensated, the witness must present the following documents to the receptionist on the 2nd floor of our office:

1. Completed W-9 form
2. Completed State Attorney Witness Fee and Travel Allowance form
3. Your original subpoena, signed by the assistant state attorney in court

Compensation will be mailed by the Clerk of Circuit Court to the address listed on the subpoena.

In accordance with the Americans with disabilities act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in hearings should contact (813) 274-1566, no later than seven (7) days prior to the proceedings or via Florida relay service for the hearing impaired at 1-800-955-8770 (TDD-TTY).

Witness Aid can be contacted at (813) 274-1566 or [email protected].

When you enter the courthouse, you will have to pass through security. Allow yourself plenty of time to complete the security screening and locate the courtroom. Certain items cannot be brought into the courthouse.

Prohibited items include:

• Guns and any item that replicates a gun or firearm
• Ammunition and firearm magazines
• Knives/Daggers (all types/all sizes)
• Box Cutters/Razors/Razor Blades/Cigar Cutters and other sharp items
• Pepper Spray/Mace/OC Spray
• Stun Guns/Tasers/Electronic Control Devices
• Handcuffs and Handcuff Keys
• Nail Files made of metal or glass greater than 5” overall length
• Metal Combs with sharp points, all Metal Hair Picks, all Metal/Plastic “Rat-tail” Combs
• Tools: All light-weight tools greater than 8” overall length, all heavy-weight tools, all screwdrivers (except miniature eyeglass screwdrivers)
• Walking Sticks greater than 40-inch overall length Scissors (all types/all sizes)
• Knitting & Crochet Needles Any other item that could be used as a weapon in the opinion of the security screener

NOTE: Concealed Weapon Permit Holders are prohibited from bringing firearms/weapons inside the courthouse per Florida Statute §790.06.

Persons who attempt to enter the courthouse with prohibited items may voluntarily surrender the objects into an Amnesty Box or they may secure the objects outside the facility in their personal vehicle, etc. This does not include firearms, weapons and other items that are illegally possessed.

Dress appropriately for court. Coats, ties, suits and dresses are welcome but not required. You cannot wear shorts, sleeveless shirts, or clothing that may be considered inappropriate or offensive.

You cannot bring any food or beverage into the courtroom and you cannot chew gum or eat candy in the
courtroom.

Unless your child is also required to be in court, do not bring children to the courthouse. When you get to the courtroom, check in with the assistant state attorney.

Be aware that you may be asked to remain outside of the courtroom while other witnesses testify and that you should not discuss your testimony with anyone other than the lawyers involved in the case once the trial has begun.

Most importantly, be truthful.

Florida Statute §92.57 Termination of employment of witness prohibited.—A person who testifies in a judicial proceeding in response to a subpoena may not be dismissed from employment because of the nature of the person’s testimony or because of absences from employment resulting from compliance with the subpoena. In any civil action arising out of a violation of this section, the court may award attorney’s fees and punitive damages to the person unlawfully dismissed, in addition to actual damages suffered by such person.
History.—s. 1, ch. 90-185.

While most hearings are in person, some hearings are conducted virtually. The judge determines whether hearings are in person or virtual.

• Virtual Court Hearings
• How to Use Zoom for Court