Main Courthouse Tour Information

15th Judicial Circuit
Palm Beach County
Glenn Kelley, Chief Judge

Main Courthouse Tours have been suspended until further notice.

Court Information

The Chief Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County is responsible for the administrative oversight of the Circuit and County Court Judges. He is assisted with his responsibilities by the Trial Court Administrator, Barbara Dawicke.

The first Palm Beach County Courthouse was built in 1916 across the street from this facility. It’s now known as the Palm Beach County Historical Courthouse. Tours of the Historical Courthouse are available through the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

The current Main Judicial Courthouse was built in 1995 to accommodate the growing population in Palm Beach County.

The number of Circuit and County Court Judges is determined by population. The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit has a total of 54 Judges:

35 Circuit Court Judges
19 County Court Judges

There are also other judiciary staffs within the circuit. They include:

9 Magistrates
17 Civil Traffic Hearing Officers

There are 5 Courthouse Locations:

Main Judicial Complex - West Palm Beach
North County Courthouse – Palm Beach Gardens
South County Courthouse – Delray Beach
West County Courthouse – Belle Glade
Criminal Justice Complex - Gun Club

15th Judicial Circuit Tour Information

The Court has established the following procedures to ensure a pleasant and productive visit of the Judicial Courthouse:

Tours are only conducted at the Main Courthouse.
All tours must be scheduled at least 4 weeks in advance.
Guest under the age of 18 must have one chaperone for every ten guests.
Groups of 10 to 50 may be broken up into separate groups at the discretion of the tour guide(s).
Groups must arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the tour to allow enough time to pass through security. The tour guide(s) will meet the group in the lobby.
All electronic devices must be turned off during court observations.
No eating or drinking in courtrooms.

15th Judicial Circuit – Tour Information

All guests must wear proper attire when visiting the judicial center. Shorts, hats, flip-flops, halters and tank tops are not suitable for the courtroom.
Each tour is created to accommodate each group. A tour may consist of court observation, visit to the law library and jury room, K-9 demonstration.
The tour guide will attempt to arrange for a brief question and answer session with a Judge.
Please remember that the judicial courthouse is a place of business where our community comes to address important legal matters. All tour groups must conduct themselves accordingly. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.

Judiciary

First Floor

Clerk & Comptroller

Jury Duty prospective jurors are randomly selected from the DMV’s list of driver’s license and identification card holders residing in Palm Beach County. Jurors must be a US citizen at least 18 years of age, and a legal resident of Palm Beach County.

Self Service Center provides resources to those representing themselves in cases such as divorce, evictions, small claims, etc.

Second Floor

County Court Civil Judges preside over lawsuits with damages up to $30,000, in cases such as evictions and small claims. Judges preside over domestic violence, traffic and county criminal cases.

County Court Criminal Judges handle moving and non-moving traffic violations in cases such as speeding, seat belt, red light camera, handicapped parking tickets and more. Misdemeanors are offenses lower than felonies and generally punishable by fine, penalty or jail time for up to one year. Violations include petty theft, simple assault and battery.

Third Floor

County Court Civil Judges preside over foreclosure hearings, along with probate cases, county civil cases.

Circuit Civil Court Judges handle lawsuits with damages of more than $30,000, in cases such as foreclosures, medical malpractice, probate of estates, and marriage license Circuit Criminal Court Judges handle felonies. Felonies are a serious crime that is punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year. Criminal appeals, sealing and expundgement of records are also handled by this division.

Fourth Floor

Judges preside over foreclosure and probate cases. Unified Family Court Judges handle family-related matters such as adoption, child support , divorce, domestic, guardianship, juvenile, mental health, name change, and paternity.

Fifth Floor

Court Administration oversees all judicial and non-judicial matters arising within the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. It serves as the operational hub for the Circuit.

Sixth Floor

Magistrates are quasi-judicial officers who conduct formal court hearings, take testimony and evaluate evidence for child support and post-order family case matters.

Mediation is a process whereby a neutral and impartial third person acts to encourage and facilitate the resolution of a dispute without prescribing what it should do.

Unified Family Court handles family-related matters such as adoption, child support , divorce, domestic, guardianship, juvenile, mental health, name change, and paternity.