Federal Court Crimes

If you have been arrested for a crime in Federal Court in the Middle District of Florida (FLMD) including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Pinellas County, Tampa, Hillsborough County, or surrounding counties, contact the Morris Law Firm, P.A., St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Attorney, for specific information and experience on Federal Court criminal cases.

St. Petersburg Federal Criminal Defense Attorney

What is Federal Court?

The United States Federal Courts make up the Judiciary Branch of government as structured under the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. Federal Courts include general trial courts known as United States District Courts, Courts with geographic-based appellate jurisdiction which are the eleven numbered United States Courts of Appeals, and the court of last resort, the Supreme Court of the United States.

Most often when someone is charged with a federal crime they are appearing in one of the U.S. District Courts.

The Middle District of Florida (FLMD) U.S. District Court covers over 350 miles from the Georgia border on the northeast to south of Naples on Florida’s southwest coast and includes the Tampa Bay area. There is a Divisional Office in Tampa at the Sam M. Gibbon U.S. Courthouse.

The Middle District of Florida has been officially designated a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Enforcement Area (HIDTA) by the Department of Justice. In FY 2008 the district had the sixth highest number of criminal defendants charged with drug-related offenses (excluding marijuana offenses), and the tenth highest number of defendants charged with fraud (White Collar Crime) related offenses. These two categories of offenses accounted for 67% of the total criminal defendants charged in Middle District of Florida.

State Court Versus Federal Court:

The court that hears a criminal case is determined by jurisdiction, which is the types of cases a court is authorized to hear.

Most commonly, criminal cases are heard in State court, as State courts have broad jurisdiction to handle violations of state laws which typically cover crimes such as assault / battery, traffic offenses, DUI, theft and the like. State courts do not handle crimes involving certain federal laws.

Federal Court jurisdiction, on the other hand, is restricted to the types of cases listed in the U.S. Constitution and provided for by Congress. Crimes heard by Federal Courts include bringing controlled substances across state lines or into the country, U.S. Mail fraud (using the U.S. Mail system to cheat consumers), and crimes that are committed on federal grounds (military bases, national parks, etc.).

In some instances, both State and Federal Court has jurisdiction which forces the parties to determine which court will hear the case.

Issues / Potential Defenses:

Melinda Morris is admitted to practice law in the Middle District of Florida (FLMD) U.S. District Court.

We will strive to file any necessary motions to dismiss or motions to attempt to exclude evidence in an effort to maximize your opportunity for a positive outcome. As your criminal defense lawyer, we will represent you at any necessary pre-trial hearings, pre-trial motions, and at trial.

What To Do Next:

If you have been arrested for a federal crime:

1. Don’t speak to law enforcement – ask to have an attorney present. 
2. Don’t give a written statement – again, ask to have an attorney present. 
3. Contact an attorney immediately. 
4. Collect and document your own evidence.

Morris Law Firm, P.A. | Federal Court Crimes Attorney

If you have been arrested for a crime in Federal Court in the Middle District of Florida (FLMD), contact a St. Petersburg Attorney to discuss possible defenses and specific strategies that may exist in your case. 

Call the Morris Law Firm, P.A. at (727) 592-5885 to discuss your case directly with an attorney, or fill out our Online Form to be contacted for a Free Initial Consultation. 

The Morris Law Firm, P.A. can help and has specific knowledge and experience in defending Federal Court Crimes offenders throughout Pinellas County and the entire Tampa Bay, FL Area (St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Hillsborough, Pasco, Bradenton, Manatee, and Sarasota).

U.S. District Court – Middle District of Florida (FLMD)

Tampa Division 
Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse 
801 North Florida Ave. 
Tampa, Florida 33602 
813-301-5400