U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson toured the Sam M. Gibbons Federal Courthouse today and the experience literally left him aghast. The senator was responding to complaints from federal judges and employees who work in the 12-year-old building that shoddy construction has left them with leaking windows and roofs and that mold has taken hold. ...more

February 16, 2009

A well-spoken and assertive Diana O'Neill spent nearly four hours arguing her innocence Friday before a jury found her not guilty of four child abuse charges. ...more

February 14, 2009

One of the most iconic images of American life, that of circus elephants joined trunk-to-tail as they lumber along to delight "children of all ages," as the old saying goes, is about to be debated in a courtroom. ...more

February 4, 2009

A federal judge said today she doesn't have the authority to change slumlord Steven Green's 33-month prison sentence to probation. ...more

January 23, 2009

Jury selection began Monday for the three trials on tap for this week. ...more

January 13, 2009

Ryan O'Neal has pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge. ...more

January 9, 2009

A judge agreed today to some restrictions on how autopsy photos and X-rays of a toddler's remains can be viewed by the defense team for her mother, who is charged with killing her. ...more

January 8, 2009

As a teenager, this man once spent his nights prowling the swamps of Florida in search of snakes and raccoons. ...more

December 31, 2008

In the early 1950s, no one could have pegged Wayne Cobb for someone who would eventually hold a Pasco Circuit Court judgeship for more than three decades. In a few days, however, the 72-year-old will retire from that very position, ending his run as the county's longest serving jurist at nearly 32 years. ...more

December 30, 2008

A year after being indicted in the rape and murder of a 71-year-old, Michael Lord Owens finally appeared in a Hillsborough County courtroom today. Owens, 45, made an initial appearance before Circuit Judge Walter Heinrich. The judge set Owens's arraignment for Jan. 6. ...more

December 22, 2008