Federal Building in Richmond, VA: Courthouses, ID, and Parking

Richmond’s federal court business runs out of two downtown buildings a few blocks apart: the Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr. Federal Courthouse at 701 East Broad Street, and the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. U.S. Courthouse at 1000 East Main Street. Most people searching for a federal building in Richmond, VA need the Robinson/Merhige courthouse, which houses the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and the Federal Public Defender’s Office.¹ The Powell courthouse is the home of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.²

Which Building You Need

Robinson/Merhige Courthouse, 701 East Broad Street

This is where federal jury duty, district court hearings, criminal prosecutions, and civil trials happen in the Richmond Division of the Eastern District of Virginia.¹ The building also holds:

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Suite 4000, (804) 916-2400³
The Federal Public Defender’s Office, Suite 3600, (804) 343-0800, which represents defendants in federal criminal cases who cannot afford private counsel; eligibility is determined by the court⁴
Naturalization ceremonies for new U.S. citizens⁵

Powell Courthouse, 1000 East Main Street

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments here during scheduled court weeks, covering appeals from the federal district courts in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.⁶ This is an appellate court, so there are no juries, no witnesses, and no trials. Members of the public mostly come to observe arguments. The Fourth Circuit Clerk’s Office is next door in the courthouse annex at 1100 East Main Street, Suite 501.⁷

Other Federal Offices Nearby

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia has its Richmond branch at 919 East Main Street, Suite 1900.⁸ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division operates a district office at 400 North 8th Street, Room 416, (804) 771-2995.⁹

What ID You Need

Everyone entering either courthouse must present a valid photo ID issued by a federal or state government agency, such as a driver’s license or passport. Security officers have discretion to accept other forms of photo identification.¹⁰

Federal courthouses are exempt from REAL ID requirements. Even after the May 7, 2025 REAL ID enforcement date, a standard non-REAL ID driver’s license still gets you into a federal courthouse.¹¹ The exemption exists to protect the constitutional right of public access to court proceedings. For other federal buildings in the area, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office or the Wage and Hour office, you will generally need a REAL ID-compliant license, a passport, or another acceptable form of identification.¹²

Phones, Laptops, and the Yondr Pouch

Electronics rules differ between the two courthouses, and this is what trips up first-time visitors.

At the Robinson/Merhige courthouse, you can bring in a cell phone or smart watch, but a security officer will power it off and seal it inside a locked Yondr Pouch as you enter. The pouch blocks all signals, so your phone will not receive calls, texts, or notifications while you are in the building. An officer unlocks the pouch when you leave. Tablets, laptops, cameras, and other personal electronics are prohibited unless a judge has specifically authorized them.¹⁰ For naturalization ceremonies, phones and smart watches are banned entirely, not just pouched; guests who bring them will not be allowed in.⁵

At the Powell courthouse, the Fourth Circuit generally prohibits visitors from bringing any electronic devices into the courthouse or the annex. The exception is lawyers and their staff during scheduled court weeks, who may carry phones, laptops, and tablets subject to security inspection. All electronics must be turned off inside any courtroom or judicial chambers, and violating the policy can result in removal from the building, a fine, or other sanctions.¹³

If you are attending Fourth Circuit arguments as a member of the public, leave your phone in the car. If you are headed to district court or bankruptcy court, bring it, but assume you will not touch it until you walk back out.

Security Screening and Prohibited Items

All visitors pass through a magnetometer, and all bags are X-rayed. Security officers may also use a handheld wand. There are no exceptions.¹⁰

Firearms, knives, mace, pepper spray, and anything else that could serve as a weapon are banned from both buildings. Neither courthouse provides lockers, so leave anything prohibited in your car or do not bring it with you.¹⁰

Hours and Phone Numbers

The Robinson/Merhige courthouse is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The District Court Clerk’s Office runs 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.¹ The Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office in Suite 4000 keeps shorter hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, which catches people out when they show up late in the afternoon.³ All federal courthouses close on federal holidays.

Numbers worth saving before you go:

Fourth Circuit Clerk’s Office: (804) 916-2700¹⁴
Fourth Circuit Access Coordinator (hearing or other communication-related accommodations): (804) 916-2760²
District Court Help Desk, Richmond Division: (804) 916-2220⁵
Bankruptcy Court, Richmond Division: (804) 916-2400³
Federal Public Defender, Richmond: (804) 343-0800⁴
DOL Wage and Hour Division, Richmond: (804) 771-2995⁹

Individual offices sometimes keep different hours than the building itself, so call ahead if you have any doubt.

Getting There and Parking

Downtown Richmond parking is almost entirely commercial garages and surface lots. Public garages at 7th and Marshall and 5th and Marshall streets sit within a few blocks of both courthouses, and some private lots in the area offer early-bird rates for arrivals before 9:00 AM. Expect typical downtown rates, and give yourself time to walk from wherever you park.

Drivers with a disability parking placard can park for up to four hours in metered or time-restricted spaces without paying a fee, though individual Virginia localities can override this privilege, so check posted signs.¹⁵

The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) runs every bus route zero-fare, so transit downtown is free.¹⁶ The GRTC Pulse, a bus rapid transit line running between Willow Lawn and Rockett’s Landing, serves downtown with frequent stops along Broad and Main streets, putting riders close to both courthouses. Main Street Station, about half a mile southeast of the Powell courthouse, connects Amtrak, GRTC local routes, the Pulse, and intercity bus service.

1
United States District Court – Eastern District of Virginia. Richmond – Eastern District of Virginia
2
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Visiting the Court
3
United States Bankruptcy Court – Eastern District of Virginia. Richmond
4
Federal Public Defender. Richmond Office
5
United States District Court Eastern District of Virginia. Naturalization
6
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. About the Court
7
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Offices – Section: Office of the Clerk of Court
8
U.S. Department of Justice. Eastern District of Virginia – Contact Us
9
U.S. Department of Labor. Wage and Hour District Offices
10
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Courthouse Entrance Requirements and Security Policy
11
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Courthouse Entrance Requirements and Security Policy
12
Department of Homeland Security. ID Requirements for Federal Facilities
13
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Electronic Device Policy
14
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Contact
15
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Disabled Parking Placards and Plates Privileges
16
GRTC. Community Partners: Improving Access With Zero Fare