Pursuant to Local Rule 506 and Standing Order 2026-04, the Court has adopted the following policy concerning the use of electronic devices in the courthouse by visitors (including prospective jurors, members of the media, and case litigants).  The Court has also adopted a more restrictive policy concerning the use of electronic devices in courtrooms.

Unless an exception applies, visitors to the federal courthouses in Baltimore and Greenbelt may not bring portable electronic devices into the courthouses.   Portable electronic devices include laptop computers, cellular phones (including smart phones), electronic tablets, cameras, smart watches, smart glasses, and any other instruments capable of photography, video recording, audio recording, or wireless communications (including earpieces and fitness trackers).

Persons excepted from this policy may possess portable electronic devices inside the courthouses, provided they present credentials necessary to confirm their status to court security personnel upon request. 

Excepted individuals include:

• Members of the Bar of the District of Maryland, pro hac vice attorneys, and counsel of record in scheduled proceedings, who must present an electronic bar membership credential to court security personnel upon entry to the courthouse.  Attorneys authorized to practice will receive an email with instructions on obtaining their electronic bar credential.  Please activate your electronic bar credential promptly upon receipt of this email.
• Sitting and prospective petit and grand jurors, who must present their summons or VoiceMetrix notification to court security personnel upon entry to the courthouse. 
• Litigants attending scheduled traffic and other petty offense proceedings, who must present to court security personnel any notice or summons issued by the Central Violations Bureau (CVB) reflecting the date of the proceeding.
• Visitors attending naturalization proceedings or other ceremonial, educational, or training programs, as permitted by the presiding judge. 
• Employees and contractors of the United States Courts, federal state, and local law enforcement officers, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, the U.S. Trustee’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the General Services Administration, who must present a photo identification card, personal identity verification (PIV) card, or electronic credential to court security personnel upon request. 
• Excepted individuals other than those listed above, including accompanying members of an attorney’s staff, pro se litigants appearing for a scheduled proceeding, members of the media, and individuals with a special need, may obtain prior permission to bring an electronic device into the courthouse through the Electronic Device Request form on the Court’s website.
• All individuals who qualify for an exception and have not obtained prior permission may request an Electronic Device Pass from the Clerk’s Office. 

Electronic Device Rules of Use:

• Any portable electronic devices not permitted to be brought into the courthouses will be securely stored in lock boxes located in the lobby until the owner retrieves the devices upon departure from the courthouse. 
• Use of portable electronic devices is strictly limited to approved purposes as provided for in Standing Order 2026-04 and Local Rule 506.  For further information and a complete list of exceptions, please review the Standing Order 2026-04 and Local Rule 506.
• Visitors to the courthouse and counsel may bring electronic devices into the courthouse provided they have been subject to a security inspection and cleared by security officers upon entrance to the courthouse.
• By bringing electronic devices into the courthouse, visitors and counsel are on notice that electronic devices may be subject to confiscation and inspection to determine whether there has been a violation of Local Rule 506 or Standing Order 2026-04, and by bringing electronic devices into the courthouse consent to such confiscation and inspection.
• Visitors to the courthouse and counsel may use cellular phones and transmit wireless data through mobile devices in the public areas of the courthouse provided these devices are not used for taking photographs or any audio or video recording. Members of this Court's Bar may use these devices in the designated attorney lounges.
• Members of this Court's Bar may access the Wi-Fi connection pursuant to applicable policy restrictions and may use electronic devices subject to the limitations of Rule 506.
• Visitors to the courthouse must turn off all electronic devices before entering a courtroom and may not use electronic devices in a courtroom without the permission of the presiding judge.
• Counsel of record in a case may use electronic devices for approved purposes (i.e. to check email or calendars, perform case-related legal research, or otherwise as approved by the presiding judge) during court proceedings while sitting at counsel table.  Otherwise, unless permitted by the presiding judge, electronic devices may not be used in the courtroom, and must be turned off in the courtroom.
• Use of electronic devices in violation of this policy may subject the device to confiscation and inspection to determine whether court proceedings have been recorded, photographed, broadcast, or transmitted outside of the courtroom.
• By entering the courtroom with electronic devices, visitors and counsel will be deemed to have consented to the confiscation and inspection of any device to determine whether there has been a violation of the policy.
• Unless authorized by the presiding judge, court proceedings may not be recorded, photographed, broadcast, or transmitted outside of the courtroom.
• Selected jurors may use electronic devices in jury rooms except during deliberations, unless otherwise instructed by the presiding judge. Selected jurors may not use electronic devices in the courtroom while court is in session, and grand jurors may not use electronic devices in the grand jury room while the grand jury is in session.

Cameras in the Courthouse

Under Local Rule 506, the Court has generally prohibited any photography, videorecording, audiorecording, broadcasting, or transmission of court proceedings and courthouse spaces.  Cameras, such as on mobile devices, may be brought into the courthouse but visitors may not take photographs or any recordings in the courtrooms or other public spaces of the building.

However, photography is permitted related to naturalization ceremonies and at other ceremonial proceedings when authorized by the presiding officer.  A judge sponsoring an event at the courthouse may also authorize the photographing or recording of courthouse space so long as the photographing or recording is not prohibited by Local Rule 506.1