Digital Audio Recording in Tampa and Orlando Courtrooms
Bankruptcy Courtrooms 9B and 10B, Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse, Tampa, Florida, and Bankruptcy Courtroom B, Fairwinds Building, Orlando, Florida, are equipped with a digital audio courtroom reporting system (FTR Gold). Proceedings in the Courtrooms are being digitally recorded in real time and stored on a compact disk (CD).

The audio records of all hearings held in Tampa Courtrooms 9B and 10B as well as Orlando Courtroom B are available on CD in the FTR Player Plus format. A CD in the FTR format can hold approximately 850 minutes of a single day’s hearing. The cost to obtain a CD is $26.00. The required software (FTR Player) can be obtained at no charge at www.ftrgold.com.

Official Transcript Requests - from Digital Audio Recordings
Orlando - The requester must fax a request indicating the date of hearing, case name and number as well as indicate if the request is expedited or regular delivery. All faxes must be directed to the courtroom administrator, Kathy Deetz, at 407-648-6692 (fax). After the request has been received, a copy of the hearing will be sent directly to the Court approved transcription firm, Real Time Reporters (407-884-4662). The transcription firm will contact the requester when the transcript is available.

Tampa - The requester must contact the Court approved transcription firm, Johnson Transcription Services at 813-920-1466. At the time of request, the style of the case or adversary proceeding, case/adversary number, and date and time of hearing must be provided. The transcription firm will contact the court directly for a copy of the requested hearing and will notify the requester when the transcript is available.

Non-Transcript Requests (CD only)
Non-transcript requests for Orlando and Tampa hearings can be made by filling out the appropriate request form below. The requester will be contacted by the court when a CD copy of the requested hearing is available. At the time of pickup, a payment for $26.00 must be made before the CD will be released.

Non-Transcript Request Form (Digital Audio Recordings)

Official Transcript Requests - contact court reporters

Videos and Presentations
The Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida has numerous online videos available. Videos include Bankruptcy Basics, Credit Abuse Resistance Education, and an electronic history of our Judges.

View court videos

Laptop computers in courtrooms
The Bankruptcy Court of the Middle District of Florida allows certain trustees and attorneys to routinely transport laptop computers into courtrooms and allow their use during routine hearings and proceedings. More information is available by clicking the link below:

Laptop information

Audio/Visual Courtrooms
The Court encourages the use of videoconference equipment and is interested in better serving its public. If you are an attorney who has access to video technology and would like to appear via video, please contact a courtroom administrator.
Courtroom Technology
Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa courtroom Video Conference capabilities
• ISDN connections.
• Fixed cameras (judge, witness, one per lectern)
• Monitors per courtroom (two in Jacksonville, one in Orlando and four in Tampa)
• Television (one in Fort Myers)
• Two-channel infrared transmitter (one for hearing impaired and one for interpreter capabilities)
• Telephone system tied to sound system
• Audio in/audio out connections (requires RCA-type connector or ¼" phono-type connectors)
•Wireless microphones for the handicapped in all courtrooms in all divisions

Courtroom 21 at William and Mary Law School
Designed to give courtroom participants the visual and technological information they need in preparing for trial in any participating courtroom in the U.S.

Read more about William & Mary's Courtroom Information Project