Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse (M.D. Fla.): Cell Phone Policy (2026)
Short answer: Absent a court order or a Local Rule 7.02 exception, no one may bring a personal electronic device (cell phone, laptop, tablet) beyond the security checkpoint. Smart glasses, including prescription ones, are banned everywhere in the courthouse. Photo ID required; recording of proceedings prohibited. Checked
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida |
|---|---|
| Address | 801 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Public phones | Banned for the general public |
| Rule for visitors | Absent a court order or a Local Rule 7.02 exception, no one may bring a personal electronic device (cell phone, laptop, tablet) beyond the security checkpoint. Smart glasses, including prescription ones, are banned everywhere in the courthouse. Photo ID required; recording of proceedings prohibited. |
| Lockers | Jury 'First Day' page says jurors' phones must be stored in a locker at the courthouse; no locker information for general public found. |
| Jurors | At the judge's discretion, jurors may bring a cell phone but must store it in a locker/designated place and use it only during breaks in designated areas; phones not allowed in the courtroom. Laptops, tablets, smart watches and smart glasses are not allowed. |
| Attorneys | Florida Bar members and specially admitted lawyers may bring devices past security by showing a Florida Bar ID card or pro hac vice order; also federal government lawyers, court employees, law enforcement, contract interpreters. Devices may not be shared with or handed to others. |
| Governing order | Local Rule 7.02 |
Federal and county courthouses set separate rules. If your case is in state or county court (traffic, family, most criminal cases, state jury duty), see Florida county courthouses.
Other Federal Courthouses in Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my phone into the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse?
Absent a court order or a Local Rule 7.02 exception, no one may bring a personal electronic device (cell phone, laptop, tablet) beyond the security checkpoint. Smart glasses, including prescription ones, are banned everywhere in the courthouse. Photo ID required; recording of proceedings prohibited.
Are there phone lockers at the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse?
Jury 'First Day' page says jurors' phones must be stored in a locker at the courthouse; no locker information for general public found.
Can jurors bring phones to the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse?
At the judge's discretion, jurors may bring a cell phone but must store it in a locker/designated place and use it only during breaks in designated areas; phones not allowed in the courtroom. Laptops, tablets, smart watches and smart glasses are not allowed.
Can attorneys bring phones to the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse?
Florida Bar members and specially admitted lawyers may bring devices past security by showing a Florida Bar ID card or pro hac vice order; also federal government lawyers, court employees, law enforcement, contract interpreters. Devices may not be shared with or handed to others.
Can I bring a gun or knife into a federal courthouse?
No. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 930) prohibits firearms and dangerous weapons in federal court facilities, with narrow exceptions such as on-duty law enforcement.