News Summary
St. Petersburg is set to unveil the Bernie McCabe Second District Court of Appeal Courthouse on December 1, 2025. This modern facility, located at 525 Mirror Lake Drive North, will serve multiple Florida counties, including Pinellas and Pasco. At a cost of $59 million, it will feature 15 judicial chambers, a courtroom, and workspace for 95 employees, enhancing the region’s judicial landscape after the previous courthouse was deemed uninhabitable.
St. Petersburg is set to welcome a new landmark in its judicial landscape: the Bernie McCabe Second District Court of Appeal Courthouse, which is scheduled to officially open its doors on December 1, 2025. Located at 525 Mirror Lake Drive North, just one block from City Hall, this modern facility is established on a site that previously housed the Sebring Building until its demolition in 2022 due to structural issues.
The construction of the courthouse, which commenced in 2023, comes at a total cost of $59 million. It is designed to be three stories tall and will cover an area between 53,000 to 59,516 square feet. The courthouse will include 15 judicial chambers, a single courtroom for hearings, and provide workspaces for 95 full-time employees. Plans indicate that there will also be covered parking available for staff and visitors, along with modern security features to ensure the safety of court operations.
As of now, construction is progressing on schedule and within budget, according to State Courts Administrator Eric Maclure. A phased move-in process for personnel and equipment is anticipated to begin in November 2025, culminating in the official opening of the courthouse on December 1, 2025.
This new courthouse is designated to serve a broad area, functioning as an intermediary for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which includes Pinellas and Pasco counties, the 12th Circuit encompassing Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties, and the 13th Circuit covering Hillsborough County. Its main role will be to review appeals from local circuit courts before cases are forwarded to the Florida Supreme Court.
In recognition of the late Bernie McCabe, the former State Attorney for Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, the courthouse has been named in his honor. The courthouse project has also included the development of green spaces along Mirror Lake and upgrades to the sidewalks adjacent to the facility, aiming to enhance the community environment.
Funding for the courthouse came from the Florida Legislature, which allocated $50 million in 2021, followed by an additional $9 million for the fiscal year 2023-24. The architectural design was spearheaded by DLR Group from Orlando, with Wannemacher Jensen Architects from St. Petersburg participating as the associate architect. Skanska USA has been appointed as the general contractor for this project.
The establishment of the new courthouse is particularly significant as it aims to consolidate judicial operations that, due to the previous courthouse’s uninhabitability, had to be temporarily relocated to leased spaces in Lakeland and Stetson Law School in Tampa. The current leadership of the Second District Court of Appeal, under Chief Judge Matthew C. Lucas, who has been re-elected for a new two-year term starting on July 1, 2025, marks a continuity and stability within the judiciary as this new facility is introduced.
The completion of the new Bernie McCabe Second District Court of Appeal Courthouse not only represents a substantial investment in St. Petersburg’s judicial infrastructure but also aligns with the city’s ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance government and legal services in the region. With its expected opening in December 2025, the courthouse is poised to play a crucial role in the judicial process for a significant number of Florida residents.
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Additional Resources
- Florida YIMBY: Construction Begins on the New Courthouse
- St. Pete Catalyst: Welcome for 2nd DCA Courthouse
- St. Pete Catalyst: Courthouse Construction Milestone
- Google Search: Bernie McCabe Second District Court of Appeal Courthouse
- JD Supra: Everything You Need to Know About the Courthouse
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
