UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
)
IN THE MATTER OF: ) No. 25-mc-00001
)
SECURITY PROCEDURES IN THE ) GENERAL ORDER /
TERRE HAUTE, EVANSVILLE, AND NEW ) ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY
ALBANY DIVISIONS ) 2025-06
)
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 United States Courthouse
in Terre Haute; the Winfield K. Denton Federal Building and United States Courthouse in
Evansville; and the Lee H. Hamilton Federal Building and United States Courthouse in New
Albany (collectively referred to as "U.S. Courthouses in the Southern District" or "Courthouse
Facilities").
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 entrances to U.S. Courthouses
in the Southern District 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 Courthouse Facilities.
2. All persons entering a U.S. Courthouse in the Southern District via a public 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 any of the
Courthouse Facilities.
3. All persons entering a U.S. Courthouse in the Southern District via a public 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) for screening through
an X-ray device and / or personal inspection by a Court Security Officer shall be denied
access to any 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 a
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 or random checks):
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 emergency calls originating from a
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;
h. Individuals designated by the Chief District Judge or United States Marshal;
i. Federal employees on official business with valid government agency Personal
Identity Verification (PIV) cards;
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4. No person having authorized access to any Courthouse Facility, or a secured location
therein, shall permit any unauthorized person access to any Courthouse Facility or to
any elevator, locked stairwell door, or any other locked area in a Courthouse Facility
without proper authorization.
5. Only government employees authorized by their appropriate agency manager and
possessing an official identification card may enter Courthouse Facilities through a
secured entrance.
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 at a designated court
security checkpoint 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 a 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
a Courthouse Facility.
3. Devices in a locked pouch shall remain in the possession of the owner while in a
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
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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 valid government agency PIV cards
and contractors of tenant agencies on official business.
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 into the Courthouse Facilities believes they require
access to an electronic device to manage a medical condition, or if any individual
believes they require access to an electronic device to be able to meaningfully
access the Courthouse Facilities, 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 Courthouse Facilities 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 weapon 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 any 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 Officer(s) in Uniform Escorting a Prisoner in State/Local Custody to a
Court Proceeding
a. Correctional officer(s) 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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