UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
)
IN THE MATTER OF: ) No. 25-mc-00001
)
SECURITY PROCEDURES IN THE ) GENERAL ORDER /
INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION ) ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY
) 2025-05
)
GENERAL ORDER
This order supersedes and replaces all prior orders of this Court on these subjects and
establishes the security procedures applicable to all persons entering the Birch Bayh Federal
Building and United States Courthouse in Indianapolis, Indiana (referred to as "U.S. Courthouse"
or "Courthouse Facility").
SECURITY PROCEDURES
A. Screening of Persons at Public and Designated "Employee Only" Building Entrances
1. The United States Marshals Service Court Security Officers shall operate X-ray
machines and walk-through magnetometers at all public or designated "employee only"
entrances to the U.S. Courthouse for the purpose of screening persons upon entry. All
persons and their belongings are subject to search by the United States Marshals
Service while in the Courthouse Facility.
2. All persons entering the U.S. Courthouse via a public or designated "employee only"
entrance shall pass through the walk-through magnetometers for the purpose of
detection of firearms, explosives, pepper spray, incendiary devices, knives, E-
cigarettes, vaping devices, vaping-related items, or any other items prohibited by law,
regulation, or court order from introduction into these facilities. These persons shall
submit to further screening by a United States Marshals Service Court Security Officer
if the readings of the magnetometer indicate the presence of metallic substances. This
further screening may encompass the removal of all metallic objects on their person
and screening by a portable handheld metal detector or other screening procedures as
necessary. Any person refusing to submit to this screening process shall be denied
access to the Courthouse Facility.
3. All persons entering the U.S. Courthouse via a public or designated "employee only"
entrance who are carrying, delivering or otherwise transporting any briefcase, suitcase,
package, container, or electronic device (including but not limited to cellular
telephones, smart phones, smart watches, smart glasses, tablet computers, laptop
computers, or recording devices of any kind) (herein referred to as "carried item") shall
surrender such carried item for screening through an X-ray device and/ or personal
inspection by a Court Security Officer. Any person refusing to submit his or her carried item(s)
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for screening through an X-ray device and/or personal inspection by a Court Security Officer
shall be denied access to the Courthouse Facility. If a Court Security Officer concludes, after
X-ray and /or personal inspection, that any item which the person seeks to bring into the
Courthouse Facility may contain firearms, explosives, pepper spray, incendiary devices,
knives, E-cigarettes, vaping devices, vaping-related items, or any other dangerous item
prohibited by law, regulation or court order, the individual is subject to arrest.
EXCEPTIONS. The following persons shall be exempt from the screening procedures
set forth above (with appropriate official identification, and subject to exceptions
related to changes in building security status):
a. Justices and Judges of the United States Supreme, Circuit, District, Bankruptcy,
and Tax Courts;
b. Operational employees of the United States Marshals Service and contractors of the
United States Marshals Service who serve as Court Security Officers who are
authorized by law and agency regulations to carry firearms;
c. Law enforcement employees of the United States Federal Protective Service of the
Department of Homeland Security and contractors of the United States Federal
Protective Service who serve as Physical Security Officers who are authorized by
law and agency regulations to carry firearms;
d. Law enforcement officers of tenant agencies who are authorized by law and agency
regulations to carry firearms and/or less than lethal weapons in the conduct of
official duties;
e. Law enforcement officers responding to emergencies originating from the
Courthouse Facility;
f. Law enforcement officers conducting business in cooperation with and at the
direction of a law enforcement tenant agency (i.e., case officers) who check in at a
designated United States Marshals Service building screening station;
g. Correctional officer(s) in uniform escorting a prisoner in state/local custody to a
court proceeding, provided they have given advance notice of their presence to the
United States Marshals Service; and
h. Individuals designated by the Chief District Judge or United States Marshal.
4. No person having authorized access to the Courthouse Facility, or a secured location
therein, shall permit any unauthorized person access to the Courthouse Facility or to
any elevator, locked stairwell door, or any other locked area in the Courthouse Facility
without proper authorization.
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B. Cameras, Recording Devices, and Electronic Devices
1. All cameras, recording devices, cellular telephones, smart phones, smart glasses, tablet
computers, laptop computers, smart watches, and similar electronic devices
(collectively, "electronic devices") shall be subject to inspection upon entry at all
designated court security checkpoints as described in Paragraph (A)(3) above.
2. Subject to the exemptions set forth in Paragraph (B)(6) below, all electronic devices
shall be turned off in the presence of Court Security Officers upon entry to the
Courthouse Facility and placed in a locked pouch or locked receptacle provided by the
U.S. Marshal. Devices shall remain in the locked pouch or receptacle while the owner
is in the Courthouse Facility.
3. Devices in a locked pouch shall remain in the possession of the owner while in the
Courthouse Facility. The locked pouch may not be willfully opened, damaged, or
tampered with while in the visitor's possession, and must be returned to the Court
Security Officers before leaving the Courthouse Facility, at which time the pouch will
be unlocked and the personal device will be removed from the pouch and returned to
the visitor.
4. Devices in a locked receptacle shall remain in the receptacle, and the owner will retain
the key to the receptacle while the owner is in the Courthouse Facility. Upon departure
from the Courthouse Facility, a Court Security Officer will accompany the owner to
the receptacle to unlock the receptacle and retrieve the electronic device.
5. Willful damage, attempted damage, theft, or attempted theft of the locked pouch,
locked receptacle, or key may subject the visitor to criminal penalties, including but
not limited to fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 641
and 1361.
6. Unless otherwise ordered by a Judge or tenant agency head, or their designee, only the
following persons shall be exempt from placing their electronic devices in a locked
pouch or receptacle. The following exempt individuals are not permitted to carry
another individual's electronic device into the courthouse without placing it in a locked
pouch or locked receptacle.
a. All attorneys with either valid evidence of their admission to the bar or credentials
of the U.S. Department of Justice or the Office of the Federal Public Defender, and
support staff in their company.
b. Summoned and seated petit or grand jurors, subject to any restrictions imposed by
the presiding Judge.
c. Federal employees on official business with government agency PIV cards and
contractors of tenant agencies on official business.
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d. Volunteer law clerks and/or interns of courthouse tenant agencies with valid tenant
agency-issued identification or documentation.
e. Law enforcement officials on official business with valid identification or badge.
f. Correctional officer(s) in uniform escorting a prisoner in state/local custody to a
court proceeding.
g. Members of the press or media representatives on official business, who have
previously registered with the court for media access and been approved for such
access. Approved media entrants must turn off (not place on silent or vibrate mode)
their devices before entering the courtroom.
h. If an individual seeking entry to the Courthouse Facility believes they require
access to an electronic device to manage a medical condition, or if an individual
believes they require access to an electronic device to be able to meaningfully
access the Courthouse Facility, the individual may seek an exception to the
application of this policy pursuant to the procedures in Attachment A to this
Order.
7. Notwithstanding the above exemptions, no electronic device may be used or possessed
in violation of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53 (prohibiting courtroom
photography and broadcasting in criminal cases), Local Rule 83-3 (prohibiting
courtroom photography, recording, and broadcasting in all cases, except upon approval
by the Chief Judge or presiding Judge for investiture, ceremonial, or naturalization
proceedings), or in violation of any directive of a Judge, Deputy United States Marshal,
or Court Security Officer.
C. Firearms, Knives, Explosives, and other Dangerous Items
Firearms, explosives, pepper spray, incendiary devices, knives, E-cigarettes, vaping
devices, vaping-related items, or any other dangerous item prohibited by law, regulation
or court order are prohibited from the Courthouse Facility and are subject to confiscation
by the United States Marshals Service. Except as specifically provided herein, no person
shall possess a weapon in any U.S. Courthouse within the Southern District of Indiana.
It is illegal to possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a federal building with or
without the intent to commit a crime (18 U.S.C. § 930), and any person possessing same
is subject to arrest (in addition to weapon confiscation).
The prohibition on possession does not apply to persons exempted from security
screening as set forth in in Sections A(3)(a)-(g) above.
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Federal Law Enforcement Officers
a. Federal law enforcement officers authorized by law and agency regulations to carry
firearms in the conduct of official duties are permitted to carry their firearms(s) inside
U.S. Courthouses in the Southern District and inside courtroom(s) when conducting
official business as long as firearm(s) are concealed.
b. U.S. Marshals Service policy and procedure concerning security protocol specific to
federal law enforcement agents/officers carrying firearm(s) must be adhered to at all
times while inside a U.S. Courthouse in the Southern District.
c. If a federal law enforcement officer is present at the courthouse in a personal capacity
(i.e., for a purpose not associated with law enforcement), the officer shall surrender all
firearms and other weapons, including less than lethal weapons, at the security control
point. Examples of appearances that are personal in nature include appearing as a party
in a case, witness in a civil matter, or a debtor in a bankruptcy case, or conducting
business in a Clerk's Office.
State and Local Law Enforcement Officers
a. When a state or local law enforcement officer arrives at the entrance security control
point to conduct official business within the Courthouse Facility in cooperation with
and at the direction of a law enforcement tenant agency or responding to an emergency,
the officer shall be permitted to retain control of their firearm(s), including less than
lethal weapons.
b. State and local law enforcement officers are not permitted to carry their firearm(s) in
courtrooms or hearing rooms except Task Force Officers assigned to the USMS Great
Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, who are permitted to carry their firearm(s) in
courtrooms. Firearm(s) must be concealed.
c. If a state or local law enforcement officer is present at the Courthouse in a personal
capacity (i.e., for a purpose not associated with law enforcement), the officer shall
surrender all firearms and other weapons, including non-lethal weapons, at the security
control point and secure said weapons in a U.S. Marshals Service provided gun/weapon
locker(s). Examples of appearances that are personal in nature include appearing as a
party in a case, witness in a civil matter, or a debtor in a bankruptcy case, or conducting
business in a Clerk's Office.
Correctional Officers in Uniform Escorting a Prisoner in State/Local Custody to a
Court Proceeding
a. Correctional officers in uniform escorting a prisoner in state/local custody to a court
proceeding are permitted to carry their firearms(s) inside U.S. Courthouses in the
Southern District and inside courtroom(s).
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b. U.S. Marshals Service policy and procedure concerning security protocol specific to
correctional officer(s) carrying firearm(s) must be adhered to at all times while inside
a U.S. Courthouse in the Southern District.
c. If a correctional officer is present at the courthouse in a personal capacity (i.e., for a
purpose not associated with escorting a prisoner to a court proceeding), the officer shall
surrender all firearms and other weapons, including less than lethal weapons, at the
security control point. Examples of appearances that are personal in nature include
appearing as a party in a case, witness in a civil matter, or a debtor in a bankruptcy
case, or conducting business in a Clerk's Office.
SO ORDERED.
For the Court,
Date: 3/20/2025
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Attachment A
Policy and Procedure for Requesting Exceptions to
General Order/Administrative Policy Regarding Electronic Devices
1. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is committed to
providing all persons access to its facilities and services, including individuals with
disabilities or medical conditions that require accommodations.
2. The security procedures set forth in the General Order/Administrative Policy
Regarding Security Procedures require individuals seeking entry to the Courthouse
Facility to turn off cameras, recording devices, and electronic devices, and to place
the camera, recording device, or electronic device in a locked pouch or receptacle,
unless the individual seeking entry is subject to an enumerated exception (the
"electronic device policy").
3. The security procedures set forth in the General Order/Administrative Policy
Regarding Security Procedures also state that no electronic devices may be used or
possessed in violation of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53 (prohibiting
courtroom photography and broadcasting in criminal cases), Local Rule 83-3
(prohibiting courtroom photography, recording, and broadcasting in all cases, except
upon approval by the Chief Judge or presiding Judge for investiture, ceremonial, or
naturalization proceedings), or in violation of any directive of a Judge, Deputy
United States Marshal, or Court Security Officer.
4. If an individual seeking entry to the Courthouse Facility believes they require access
to an electronic device in order to manage a medical condition, or if an individual
believes they require access to an electronic device to be able to meaningfully access
the Courthouse Facility and it's programs, the individual may seek an exception to
the application of the electronic device policy so as to retain possession and use of
their electronic device while inside the Courthouse Facility, provided such use is not
for any prohibited reasons including those stated in paragraph 3. Individuals seeking
to retain their electronic device may be required to sign a certification form agreeing
to not use their electronic device for any prohibited uses.
5. When possible, the individual should contact the tenant agency head or a court unit
access coordinator in advance to request an exception to the electronic device policy.
Requests for an exception should be in writing and made two weeks in advance of
the individual's intended visit.
6. If an individual seeks access to the Courthouse Facility but has not provided advance
notice of their request for an exception, the individual should inform a Court
Security Officer of their request upon entry. The Court Security Officer will
telephone the tenant agency or chambers of the judicial officer that the individual
intends to visit.
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7. The tenant agency head, court unit access coordinator, or chamber's representative
will determine, in their sole discretion, whether or not an exception to the electronic
device policy will be granted for the individual, and under what terms. In making
this determination the tenant agency head or chambers representative will balance
the security interests of the Courthouse Facility with the individual's request for
access. The tenant agency head or chambers representative may discuss the request
with the United States Marshals Service. In appropriate circumstances, the tenant
agency head or chambers representative may grant the request but on the condition
of the individual's adherence to additional security restrictions (for example, being
escorted by an agency, court unit, or chamber's designee, or a Court Security
Officer).
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