"Half the stress of a court date is not knowing where to go. That part we can fix before you ever walk in."
— Carolle El-Naffy
TL;DR – Broward criminal cases belong to the 17th Judicial Circuit. Felonies and first appearance hearings are handled at the Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale. Misdemeanor and criminal traffic cases may be heard there or at one of three regional courthouses. Confirm the building and courtroom on your paperwork and the Clerk's online case search, arrive early, and expect airport-style screening.
Where Is the Broward County Courthouse?
Criminal cases in Broward are handled by the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, which covers Broward County and only Broward County. Its main courthouse is a multi-building complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale:
Broward County Courthouse — 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
The Clerk of Courts lists separate West, North, and East buildings at that address, and different offices sit in different buildings. Two that matter for criminal cases:
- The Clerk's Felony division office is in the North Building.
- First appearance hearings are held in the West Wing (more on that below).
Felony cases are circuit court cases, and they are handled at this central courthouse. Because the complex has several buildings, know your building and courtroom number before you arrive.
Which Cases Are Heard at the Regional Courthouses?
Broward also runs three regional courthouses. The Clerk lists them for traffic, misdemeanor, and county civil matters, not felonies:
- North Regional Courthouse — 1600 W Hillsboro Blvd, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
- West Regional Courthouse — 100 N Pine Island Rd, Plantation, FL 33324
- South Regional Courthouse — 3550 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, FL 33021
A misdemeanor or criminal traffic case can be set at the central courthouse in Fort Lauderdale or at one of these three. Don't assume. Your notice of hearing and the Clerk's case search will say which one, and showing up at the wrong building is an easy way to miss a hearing. If you're not sure whether your charge is a misdemeanor or a felony, see misdemeanor vs. felony in Florida.
Getting There and Parking
The central courthouse is in downtown Fort Lauderdale, so plan for traffic and a busy morning:
- Courthouse garage. The Judicial Complex's East Parking Garage sits on the east side of the complex at 540 SE 3rd Avenue. Hours and rates can change, so check them before you go.
- Other downtown parking. Public and private garages and lots operate nearby, and they fill up on heavy court mornings.
- Public transit. Broward County Transit serves downtown, including its Central Terminal at 101 NW 1st Avenue. Plan the full route ahead of time.
- Build in a cushion. Between parking, the security line, and finding the courtroom, give yourself extra time. Missing a criminal court date can lead the judge to issue a warrant for your arrest (a capias).
What Can't You Bring Through Security?
The 17th Circuit designates every Broward courthouse a secure facility. Unless you're specifically exempt, you and your belongings will be screened:
- Your bags go through an X-ray machine, and you walk through a magnetometer.
- No firearms, weapons, or destructive devices.
- Nothing that could be used, or seen, as a threat, including pocketknives, ammunition, fireworks, and caustic or flammable liquids.
- Phones are allowed, but you'll take phones, laptops, and tablets out of your bag and put them in a tray.
- Anyone who refuses screening is denied entry.
Leave anything questionable at home. Once you're inside, silence your phone before entering a courtroom, and don't photograph or record anything unless the judge allows it.
What Happens at First Appearance in Broward?
After an arrest anywhere in Broward, booking is handled by the Broward Sheriff's Office's Central Intake Bureau, which processes arrests for every law enforcement agency in the county. Its main booking facility is at the Broward County Main Jail, 555 SE 1st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, a short distance from the courthouse.
Florida's rules require that every arrested person who hasn't already been lawfully released be brought before a judge within 24 hours of arrest, either in person or by video. In Broward this hearing is called first appearance, or magistrate court:
- Where: the Broward County Courthouse, West Wing. The State Attorney's Office lists it as Courtroom 04155.
- When: morning and afternoon dockets on weekdays, and a morning docket on weekends and court holidays. The start times posted by different agencies don't match exactly, so confirm before you go.
- What the judge decides: whether there was legal authority for the arrest (probable cause), whether the person can be released, and on what conditions, such as bond or a no-contact order.
- Family can attend. The Public Defender's Office encourages relatives to come and show the person's ties to the community. Spanish and Creole interpreters are available.
Broward sets bond using its own county schedule. Our bond calculator lets you select Broward and gives a baseline estimate. The judge can set a different amount, so confirm the actual figure. For the steps to take right after an arrest, see what to do if you're arrested. That post is written for Miami, but the advice about staying silent and not discussing the case applies in Broward too.
How Do You Find Your Case and Courtroom?
- Use the Clerk's online Case Search at browardclerk.org. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number and filter by court type, such as Felony or Traffic/Misdemeanor. The basic public search doesn't require registration.
- Write down your case number and the courthouse and courtroom on your notice of hearing.
- Expect gaps. Not every docket entry or document is viewable online.
- Check early. If anything doesn't match, such as the date, the building, or the courtroom, sort it out with the Clerk's office or your attorney days ahead, not the morning of.
What to Wear and How to Act in the Courtroom
There's no published countywide dress code, but judges notice. Dress as if it matters, because it does:
- Business casual or conservative clothes: a collared shirt, slacks, or a modest dress or blouse.
- Skip shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, hats, and clothing with slogans or images.
Inside the courtroom, many cases share the same time slot, and the judge calls them one by one. Waiting is normal. Sit quietly, keep your phone silenced and put away, and listen for your name. Don't talk about your case in the hallway, and don't approach the prosecutor or an alleged victim. If you have a lawyer, let your lawyer do the talking.
Arraignment and Pretrial in the 17th Circuit
- Formal charges. If the person is in custody, Florida generally gives the State 30 days to file formal charges. If it doesn't, the court orders release on the person's own recognizance on the 33rd day, or the 40th day if the State shows good cause.
- Arraignment. This is the hearing where the formal charge is read and a plea is entered. In Florida, a defense attorney can file a written plea of not guilty at or before arraignment, and the arraignment is then treated as waived. Your lawyer will tell you whether you still need to appear. Never assume you don't.
- Pretrial. After arraignment comes discovery, motions, pretrial hearings, and negotiation. This is also when diversion programs come into play. Misdemeanors move through county court, and felonies move through circuit court.
For a stage-by-stage view of a Florida criminal case, use our case timeline tool.
How Broward Differs from Miami-Dade
The Florida statutes are the same in both counties. Almost everything else is different:
- Broward is the 17th Circuit, with its own State Attorney's Office, the Main Jail, its own bond schedule, and the courthouse at 201 SE 6th Street.
- Miami-Dade is the 11th Circuit, with criminal cases heard mainly at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building. See what to expect at the Miami-Dade criminal courthouse.
- Venue follows where the alleged offense happened, not your home. A Miami-Dade resident charged with a crime in Broward has a Broward case.
For the full comparison, including prosecutors, bond, and diversion, read Broward vs. Miami-Dade criminal court: what actually differs.
Have a Court Date at 201 SE 6th Street? Don't Walk In Alone
Knowing the building is one thing. Knowing what happens once your case is called is another. Carolle El-Naffy defends clients in the Broward and Miami-Dade criminal courts and prepares you for each stage, from first appearance through trial.
Call (305) 456-7576 75 Valencia Ave, Suite 800, Coral Gables, FL Confidential consultations available
