Advisories / First Appearance in Pinellas

After an arrest in Pinellas County, FL, if the person arrested does not immediately bond out, they are brought to a first appearance before the judge. These hearings are known as the first appearance or “advisory.”

The first appearance advisory hearing usually occurs within 24 hours of the arrest or shortly thereafter. For this reason, the first appearance court is in session 365 days a year, even on weekends and holidays.

Although the judge, prosecutor, and criminal defense attorney appear in the courtroom at the Criminal Justice Center at 14250 49th Street North in Clearwater, FL, the accused person typically appears remotely via video conference from the Pinellas County Jail.

First appearances in Pinellas County typically begin at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 14. At the advisory or first appearance hearing, the judge deals with the following three issues:

• First, the judge reviews a defendant’s charges listed in the criminal report affidavit to determine whether probable cause exists for the arrest.
• Second, the judge determines whether the defendant intends to represent themself, hire a private attorney, or ask for a court-appointed attorney.
• Third, the court sets the pre-trial bond conditions.

You can retain a criminal defense attorney to represent you at the advisory hearing to argue that no probable cause exists for the arrest. Even if the court finds probable cause, your attorney can request the lowest bond and least burdensome pre-trial release conditions.

Lawyer for Advisory Hearings in Clearwater, FL

If you were arrested in Pinellas County, FL, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can represent you at the first appearance hearing (also known as the “advisory”).

Your criminal defense attorney can determine whether a sufficient basis is listed in the criminal report affidavit and argue for the most favorable pre-trial release conditions. We represent clients arrested on a warrant or after the officer makes a warrantless arrest.

The criminal defense attorneys at Sammis Law Firm are experienced in fighting felony and misdemeanor cases in Pinellas County, FL, and the entire Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Our main office is located in downtown Tampa, FL. We recently opened an office in Clearwater near the CJC Courthouse. Our office is at 14010 Roosevelt Blvd Suite 701, Clearwater, FL 33762-3820.

Don’t face the judge alone. Contact our experienced criminal defense lawyers in Clearwater, FL.

Call 727-210-7004.

What Happens at the Advisory in Pinellas County, FL?

What happens during the advisory first appearance hearing in Pinellas County, FL? If you hire a criminal defense attorney, the attorney can appear in the courtroom in Clearwater, FL, to represent the person being detained.

First, the attorney will review the criminal report affidavit to determine whether probable cause exists to support the charge. If not, the attorney will make arguments in front of the judge, asking the judge to find that no probable cause exists. The court will release the defendant if the judge agrees that no probable cause supports the charge.

Second, if probable cause is found, the judge determines the bond amount and pre-trial release conditions. The court will either:

• order the accused to be held with “no bond”
• set a bond amount
• release the defendant on their own recognizance.

Sometimes, the court can impose other pre-trial release conditions, such as wearing a CAM monitor or GPS. Read more about the uniform bond schedule for Pinellas County, FL, that took effect on January 1, 2025.

Third, the judge determines whether an attorney with the Public Defender’s Office should be appointed. In many cases, the defendant will hire a private criminal defense attorney who can appear at the advisory to argue for the best pre-trial release conditions.

First Appearance Findings and Orders in Pinellas County, FL

The judge in Pinellas County, FL, might make findings or issue an order as a result of the first appearance advisory hearing. That order might provide:

FIRST APPEARANCE FINDINGS and ORDERS

Based upon the foregoing Affidavit and/or Sworn Testimony of ________, the undersigned finds and determines:

• ___ As to charge(s) of ________________, there is probable cause to believe the defendant has committed the offense with which he/she is accused and It is hereby Ordered and Adjudged that defendant is to be detained or post bond as otherwise affixed pending further proceedings.
• ___ As to charge(s) of ________________, there is a lack of probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the offense with which he/she is accused, and it is hereby Ordered and Adjudged that the Sheriff or Chief of Police having custody is directed to forthwith release defendant from custody on defendant’s own recognizance, subject to defendant appearing at all subsequent court proceedings upon proper notice.
• ___ As to charge(s) of ________________, it is hereby Ordered and Adjudged the matter of probable cause is hereby continued until the next First Appearance Hearing after date hereof, at which Hearing, the Arresting Agency shall present any further proof of probable cause that it may possess.

RELEASE ORDER:

• The above-named Defendant was brought before the undersigned on __________ at _____ o’clock, a.m or p.m. for a first appearance hearing and the undersigned informed the defendant of the charges against them, directed that the defendant be provided a copy thereof and fully advised the Defendant of all the information required by Rule 3.130, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure. Whereupon, it is Ordered and Adjudged that the defendant:
  • ___ Be released on his/her own recognizance upon the condition that he/she appear as agreed below.
  • ___ Be admitted to bail in the amount of ___________, upon the condition that he/she appear as agreed below.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF BAIL

• ___ The defendant may not consume or possess alcohol.
• ___ The defendant may not operate a motor vehicle.
• ___ The defendant must comply with any other written conditions contained in a separate order.
• ___ See special conditions hand-written on this document.

ATTORNEY STATUS

• ___ The defendant waived counsel after Faretta inquiry.
• ___ Public Defender appolnted by separate Order.
• Public Defender not appointed, defendant not indigent.

CASE STATUS

• __ Defendant pled guilty to charged misdemeanors and sentencing was deferred.
• __ Defendant pled guilty to charged misdemeanors and was sentenced.

Other Mission-Critical Hearings in Pinellas County

Even when many court proceedings were temporarily suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida Supreme Court determined that advisories or first appearance hearings were “mission-critical.” All mission-critical hearings took place each day, even during the initial lockdowns.

In addition to advisory or first appearance hearings when the defendant appears before a judge within 24 hours of their arrest, other mission-critical hearings during the COVID-19 lockdown included:

1. Criminal arraignments – when a defendant is not in custody but enters a plea only as necessary.
2. Bond motions – for individuals in custody.
3. Detention hearings – where a judge decides whether a child should be held.
4. Shelter hearings – when a judge decides whether to remove a child from the home.
5. Hearings on petitions for temporary injunctions – relating to the safety of an individual. (Beginning April 6, 2020, all violence injunction hearings in Pinellas were to be held in Courtroom One at the County Justice Center in Clearwater).
6. Petitions by law enforcement agencies for risk-protection orders– where someone is allegedly posing a threat to someone else or themselves risk losing temporary custody of their firearms.
7. Hearings on petitions for the appointment of an emergency temporary guardian.
8. Hearings to determine whether an individual should be involuntarily committed under the state’s Baker or Marchman acts.
9. Hearings on petitions for extraordinary writs as necessary to protect constitutional rights.
10. Proceedings related to a violation of quarantine or isolation, a violation of an order to limit travel, a violation of public or private building closures, and a violation of a curfew.
    • On March 27, 2021, Judge Rondolino ordered that anyone arrested on a misdemeanor violation of the coronavirus quarantine will be held without bond at the jails in Pinellas and Pasco counties until their bond status was evaluated during the first appearance hearing.

Additional Resources

First appearances in Pasco County – The first appearances in Pasco County, FL, typically begin at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 1A at the West Pasco Judicial Center, 7530 Little Road, in New Port Richey, or in a courtroom in Dade City, FL.

This article was last updated on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.