Can you bring in cell phones inside a courthouse or courtroom?
Friday, September 18th, 2009 at
4:56 am
When you have jury duty or when you need to go into the courtroom..are you allowed to bring in cell phones? The paper said you can’t but then I remember last time I went I think I can but I dont quite remember. Are we allowed to bring in cell phones or do we have to leave it at home? My cell phone has a camera so is that a problem? thanks!
Related posts:
- How many cell phones can I bring with me to Vietnam?
- What would be a good arguement of why cell phones should be alloud in theaters and restaurants?
- What is the cheapest way to talk on cell phones between US and Canada and Vise-Versa ?
- What are some good at&t (cingular) compatible cell phones to have when you do construction work?
- What is the deal with cell phones and cell phone company plans and services?
Tagged with: cell phone • cell phones • courtroom • jury duty • last time • problem thanks
Filed under: Cell Phone Information
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
in california you can bring it in but you better hope to God you don’t have it turned on while you’re in the courtroom!
It depends. I’ve been to courthouses that allow them, but more recently the security guards have started taking cameraphones at the door (i.e. holding them for people to pick up as they leave). They do it because sometimes people take pictures of witnesses who are testifying in order to intimidate them.
Take it with you & set it to vibrate. Most of the time, that’s allowed. If not, then you may have to leave it with the bailiff or even back in your car.
It is only a problem if you take it out or if it rings. Turn it off while in the court house and you will be fine. If it goes off the judge could cite you.
In Baltimore it’s like this: If it rings, the deputy takes it away and you can get it back at 4:30.
Might depend on where you are, the nature of the courtroom, etc. Different jurisdictions might actually have different rules on this, but regardless I’m sure that – if there’s a prohibition – different courts would enforce it differently.
Where I am, the general rule is to just turn them off, and that should be fine. I would expect this to be a broadly acceptable proposition. After all, what legal system can really expect every lawyer to leave his/her Blackberry at the office when going to court?
Even if they were prohibited, though…some courthouses have stricter security than others, but some have no security at all. If your cellphone is *off* and stays in your pocket, in a courthouse where you don’t have to go through a metal detector, nobody would ever know or care that you have it with you.
The other thing to note is that these sorts of rules are often posted outside the courtroom. If you expect the general public to abide by a set of rules, it’s usually good to make those rules known.
Yes, as long as you dont have a camara phone…
In my county’s courthouse, you may have a cell phone, but if you are going into the courtroom, it must be turned off. If the cell phone rings during court, the judge becomes angry and may have a deputy sheriff confiscate your cell phone and have you arrested for contempt of court.
Taking of pictures during open court is strictly prohibited.
You are best either leaving your cell phone at home or in the glove box of your car. In some courthouses, you can check your cell phone with security and pick it up when you leave the courthouse.
OF COURSE THE COURT ALLOWED CELPHONE TO BE BROUGHT INSIDE THE COURT HOUSE ON ONE CONDITION, ONCE INSIDE THE COURT HOUSE, THE CELPHONE MUST BE TURN-OFF/SILENCE, SO THAT THE RINGING OF EVERY CELPHONE WOULD BE ELIMINATED FOR THE HEARING TO CONTINUE WITHOUT FURTHER DISTURBANCE FROM IT.
Celphones are considered to be before our dog ‘man’s best friend’ the celphone has duplicated that feature. Every person carry celphone correct? Everywhere, bathroom/toilet/school/office…etc Nobody goes out of his/her house without one unless you got no hands it is obvious you do not need a celphone.
Camera on the celphone is also not allowed to be used inside the court house, because of obvious reason that the court is not a tourist spot to video tape every proceedings in the court. This suppose to be formal and sober and well respected place of law not a tourist destination. I think people should remember this. THE LAW SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND FOLLOWED NOT TO BE A CIRCUS INSIDE A COURT HOUSE. Your celphone has camera good, then DON’T USE IT INSIDE THE COURT HOUSE, turn it off when you come in and be quiet, and follow this simple rule and there you have it. NOW TELL ME IS THIS TOO HARD TO DO? EVEN A 10 YEAR OLD BOY/GIRL CAN FOLLOW THIS RULE, CAN YOU?