Plan to arrive at the courthouse at least 30 minutes before your scheduled hearing. If the building is unfamiliar, or it’s a busy urban courthouse with a morning rush, 45 minutes to an hour is more realistic. That is how early to arrive at court if you want time to park, clear security, find the right courtroom, and check in without sprinting.
Why 30 Minutes Goes Fast
Security is the biggest time trap. Every courthouse screens visitors through metal detectors and X-ray machines before you can enter. You’ll empty your pockets, place bags and coats on a conveyor belt, and walk through a detector, much like airport security but often with fewer lanes. Most hearings are set between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m., so the line backs up right when you need it not to. Court Security Officers may ask you to remove belts, jewelry, or other metal items that trigger the detector.
Once you’re inside, you still have to find the courtroom. Large courthouses have multiple floors and wings, and signage varies from excellent to nearly nonexistent. Give yourself at least five minutes for wayfinding, more if you’ve never been in the building.
Parking adds to the squeeze at urban courthouses. Street parking is scarce on weekday mornings, and garage rates downtown can run $15 to $60 per day depending on the city. If you’re taking public transit, build in time for delays and the walk from the nearest stop.
What to Bring
Bring your government-issued photo ID, any paperwork tied to your case (the summons, complaint, court notice, or case number), and a pen and notepad. If you have an attorney, bring their contact information in case you get separated at security or in the hallways. For family or financial matters, copies of relevant records like pay stubs, bank statements, or custody agreements are worth having on hand in case your lawyer asks for them or the judge requests documentation.
What to Leave Behind
Anything that could slow you down at screening or get confiscated should stay in the car. Weapons of any kind are prohibited in federal court facilities, including firearms, knives of any size, and pointed objects. Recording devices such as standalone cameras, audio recorders, and video equipment are also banned.
Cell phones are treated inconsistently. Some courthouses allow them in the building but require them to be silenced or turned off inside the courtroom. Others prohibit them entirely. Most courthouses don’t offer storage, so if you bring a phone and discover it isn’t allowed inside, you’ll have to walk it back to your vehicle, which can burn time you don’t have. Food, beverages, and oversized bags may also be restricted. When in doubt, leave the extras behind.
What to Wear
Business casual is the safest choice. A collared shirt, dress pants or a modest skirt, and closed-toe shoes will keep you on the right side of any courthouse dress code. A suit isn’t required, but flip-flops and a tank top send a message you don’t want to send.
Items commonly prohibited or frowned upon include hats (unless worn for religious reasons), shorts, sleeveless tops, clothing with offensive graphics, and sunglasses worn indoors. Two practical notes: courtrooms tend to run cold, so a light jacket or sweater is worth bringing, and heavy metal jewelry or steel-toed boots will slow you down at the screening checkpoint.
Finding Your Courtroom and Checking In
Most courthouses post a daily docket or case list near the entrance or outside each courtroom. The docket lists cases scheduled for the day along with the assigned courtroom number. Look for your name or case number. If you can’t find it, ask any court clerk or security officer for help.
Once you find the right courtroom, check in with the clerk or bailiff inside. This is not optional. Checking in confirms you showed up. If you sit quietly in the gallery without checking in, the court may not know you’re there, and your case could be called without you. After checking in, find a seat, silence your phone, and wait. If you have an attorney, this pre-hearing window is your best chance to talk through last-minute questions.
Courts often schedule dozens of hearings on the same morning calendar, so your case may not be called right at the listed time. Be prepared to wait. Books and notepads are usually fine in the gallery; laptops and tablets often are not.
If Your Hearing Is Virtual
Many courts now offer remote hearings through Zoom or similar platforms, especially for procedural matters, status conferences, and certain civil cases. The buffer looks different but still matters.
Test your equipment at least a full day before the hearing. Make sure your camera, microphone, and internet connection work reliably. Download the required app in advance rather than installing it minutes before court. Join the hearing 15 to 30 minutes early to confirm your audio and video are working and to be identified by court staff before the proceeding begins.
Treat a virtual hearing like an in-person one. Dress appropriately from the waist up at minimum, find a quiet room with a neutral background, and mute yourself when you aren’t speaking. Courts take these proceedings as seriously as in-person appearances, and being late or having technical failures carries the same risks.
What Happens If You’re Late
Consequences depend on whether your case is civil or criminal, and they range from inconvenient to life-altering.
In a civil case, if you’re the defendant and don’t appear, the court can enter a default judgment against you. The clerk can enter that default on the plaintiff’s request under the federal rules, and the court then enters judgment for whatever damages are proven. If you’re the one who filed the case, not showing up can get your case dismissed for failure to prosecute. Under the federal rules, that dismissal operates as a decision on the merits, meaning you generally can’t refile the same claim.
Missing a criminal court date is harsher. The judge will almost certainly issue a bench warrant for your arrest, authorizing law enforcement to take you into custody wherever they find you. Any bail or bond you posted can be declared forfeited. Failure to appear is also a separate federal criminal offense, with penalties that scale with the underlying charge and run consecutively to any sentence you already face. Judges also have broad power to punish contempt of court with a fine, imprisonment, or both. A judge who feels disrespected by a no-show tends to be less sympathetic when that defendant finally does appear, which can carry into bail, sentencing, or custody decisions.