Seminole County splits its court operations between two buildings in Sanford, and knowing which one your case is in before you drive there can save you a wasted trip. Criminal cases are heard at the Criminal Justice Center on Eslinger Way. Civil and traffic hearings are held at the Civil Justice Center on Park Avenue. Show up at the wrong building, and you could miss your hearing entirely.
At The Law Office of James P. Kelly, we defend clients facing criminal charges and traffic citations throughout Seminole County. When you call, you speak directly with your attorney.
Seminole County operates under the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, which also covers Brevard County. Court operations are spread across multiple facilities in downtown Sanford.
Criminal Justice Center
Civil Justice Center
Justice James E.C. Perry Annex
Key phone numbers:
If you have been arrested, the process moves quickly. You will be booked at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility and brought before a judge for a first appearance hearing within 24 hours. At that hearing, a judge sets bond, reviews the charges, and appoints the public defender if you cannot afford private counsel.
Hiring a private attorney before the first appearance can make a meaningful difference. Your attorney can:
After the first appearance, the next major event is arraignment. For misdemeanors, your attorney can often file a written not-guilty plea and waive the arraignment entirely — meaning you do not have to appear. For felonies, your presence is required.
From arraignment forward, the case enters the pretrial phase, where your attorney reviews discovery, identifies weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence, and negotiates with the assistant state attorney. Most Seminole County cases are resolved during this phase — through plea agreements, charge reductions, diversions, or dismissals.
A misdemeanor conviction creates a permanent criminal record that shows up on background checks for employment, housing, and professional licensing. Even a single traffic ticket can trigger insurance premium increases of 15% to 30% for three to five years.
Florida’s point system applies uniformly:
For CDL holders, the stakes are even higher. Federal masking prohibitions mean no traffic school, no withholding adjudication, and no diversion programs. A speeding ticket of 15 mph or more over the limit counts as a serious violation under federal regulations.
The difference between walking into court alone and walking in with an attorney can be the difference between a conviction and a dismissal.
Prosecutors in Seminole County carry heavy caseloads, and an experienced defense attorney knows how to negotiate effectively — whether that means getting a speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving violation or getting a misdemeanor charge dropped entirely.
Yes. Seminole County offers Microsoft Teams video conferencing for civil traffic infraction hearings. Contact the judicial assistant for your assigned judge to set up a virtual appearance.
Online at seminoleclerk.org, by phone at (407) 665-4300, or in person at the Criminal Justice Center at 101 Eslinger Way. Paying a ticket is the same as pleading guilty.
Criminal cases (misdemeanors and felonies) are heard at 101 Eslinger Way. Civil matters and civil traffic infraction hearings are held at 301 N. Park Avenue.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case involves unique facts and circumstances that affect the outcome. Contacting The Law Office of James P. Kelly, P.A. does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
