POLICY REGARDING WEAPONS
IN THE COURTHOUSE AND COURTROOMS
(a) Prohibition on Unauthorized Weapons. Only duly authorized law
enforcement officers are allowed to carry weapons in the United States Courthouses or
any building housing a Court of the United States within the Eastern District of California.
Only the United States Marshal, deputy marshals, and court security officers are
authorized to carry weapons within the confines of the courtrooms, secured judicial
corridors, and chambers of the Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Bankruptcy Judges. The
United States Marshal is ordered to provide appropriate security to ensure against the
introduction of unauthorized weapons or other dangerous weapons into the United States
Courthouses, courtrooms, or any building housing a Court of the United States and/or
any grounds appurtenant to such building within the Eastern District of California.
(b) Authorization for Weapon Possession. In high security situations, or
when the United States Marshal otherwise deems it appropriate, the United States
Marshal may authorize a duly authorized law enforcement officer to carry a weapon in the
courtroom, provided the law enforcement officer wears an identification badge issued by
the United States Marshal. Law enforcement officers so authorized to carry weapons
within the courtroom shall immediately identify themselves to every United States Marshal
and/or court security officer on duty within that courtroom.
(c) Use of Weapons in Evidence. Before any weapon is introduced as
evidence in a court proceeding, said weapon shall first be rendered inoperable to the
satisfaction of the United States Marshal and appropriately marked as evidence. In all
actions in which a weapon is to be introduced as evidence, that fact shall be made known
to the United States Marshal and/or court security officer on duty before the introduction
of the weapon into the courtroom. At that time and place, the weapon shall be inspected
by the United States Marshal and/or court security officer to ensure that it is in fact
inoperable.
