To increase safety inside the federal courthouse, beginning on August 14, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio will implement a new policy restricting the use of personal electronic devices by visitors at the Potter Stewart United States Courthouse in Cincinnati.

The Court will then implement the policy at the Joseph P. Kinneary U.S. Courthouse on August 28 and the Walter H. Rice U.S. Courthouse on Sept. 11.  

The policy, which amends local rule 83.2, requires visitors to the Courthouse turn off all personal electronic devices (such as cell phones and smart watches) and secure them in locked pouches that will be provided by the Court. The devices will remain in the visitor’s possession but must remain in the locked pouch as long as the visitor is in the Courthouse. The pouch will be unlocked once the visitor is ready to leave.

Additionally, visitors will not be permitted to enter the Courthouses with tablets and laptops.

“While working with our law enforcement and security partners, we determined that this policy is the best way to ensure everybody’s safety,” Chief Judge Algenon L. Marbley said. “While not one single incident motivated the Court to implement the policy, making sure the Courthouse and our Courtrooms are secure continues to be a top priority.”

Federal Courts have strict policies prohibiting pictures and recordings of Court hearings, as does the Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The new personal electronic device policy will help ensure the safety of witnesses, jury members, courtroom personnel, attorneys, U.S. Marshals, and others who are in the courtroom.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio is the 11th district to implement this type of policy, while many other state and local Courts have similar policies in place.

Provisions are in place to provide exceptions for District Court employees, attorneys, jury members, law enforcement, employees of approved delivery services, GSA employees, credentialed members of the press and people attending naturalizations ceremonies or Courthouse tours.