(a) Security.
(1) As used in this rule, “federal court facility” includes any facility occupied by the United
States District Court or the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, or any
temporary facility occupied by a judicial officer of the Eastern District of Michigan.
(2) All persons entering a federal court facility are required to pass through a magnetometer
and have all belongings and packages subject to physical and/or x-ray examination by the United States
Marshals Service.
(3) All mail and packages addressed to any office within a federal court facility are subject to
physical and/or x-ray examination by the United States Marshals Service.
(A) Except as provided in (B), sealed envelopes brought by courier may not be
delivered to any office within a federal court facility. They must be given to a court security officer for
processing in that facility’s mail room.
(B) Sealed filings authorized by statute, rule, or court order in accordance with LR 5.3
must have the court order or notice of filing under seal affixed to the top of the sealed envelope. Such
filings may be delivered to the clerk’s office.
(b) Soliciting, Loitering and Disruptive Behavior.
(1) The solicitation of business relating to bail bonds or to employment as counsel is
prohibited.
(2) Loitering in or about federal court facilities is prohibited.
(3) Any behavior which impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of the business of the court
is prohibited. Cards, signs, placards, or banners may not be brought into any courtroom or its environs.
(c) Cameras and Recording Devices
(1) The taking of photographs in connection with any judicial proceeding and the recording
or broadcasting of judicial proceedings by radio, television or other means is prohibited.
(A) As used in this rule, “judicial proceeding” includes proceedings before district,
bankruptcy or magistrate judges, and sessions of the grand jury.
(B) As used in this rule, “in connection with any judicial proceeding” includes all
participants and persons in the vicinity of a judicial proceeding while they are in a courtroom, judicial
chambers, or their environs.
(2) A judicial officer may authorize, by written notice to the United States Marshal the use of
electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence or for the perpetuation of the record.
(3) A district judge may authorize, by written notice to the United States Marshal:
United States District Court
Eastern District of Michigan
(A) the broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing of investitive,
ceremonial, or naturalization proceedings; and
(B) the radio or television broadcasting, audio or video recording or photographing
of court proceedings pursuant to a resolution of the Judicial Conference of the United States.
(d) Firearms and Weapons.
(1) Firearms, knives, explosives, and other weapons are prohibited from federal court
facilities and subject to confiscation.
(2) Exceptions to this rule may include:
(A) the United States Marshal, deputy marshals, court security officers, and
employees of the Federal Protective Service in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 930(d);
(B) federal law enforcement agencies having offices in a federal court facility are
exempt from the provisions regarding the carrying of weapons while entering the building and while going
to and from the floor where their offices are located; or
(C) state, county, and local law enforcement officers who are:
(i) escorting prisoners to and from court under the direction of the United
States Marshals Service, or
(ii) assisting the Marshals Service by supporting or providing additional
security, as directed, in and around federal court facilities.
(3) All other federal, state or local law enforcement officers are required to identify
themselves and store their weapons at the office of the United States Marshal.
(4) The handling of firearms as exhibits in trials is governed by an administrative order
authorized by the court.
(5) An exception to this Rule regarding weapons or firearms may only be made by the Chief
Judge or the Judge in whose courtroom the proceedings are occurring.
(e) Recording Devices. Subject to LR 83.32, recording devices (tape and audio recorders and
devices and dictating devices) are prohibited from federal court facilities unless otherwise ordered b a
judge in a particular case.
(f) Access to Federal Court Facilities Outside of Regular Court Hours.
(1) A judicial officer is responsible for all aspects of conducting a judicial proceeding outside
of regular court hours. This rule supplements and does not limit the authority of the judicial officer.
(2) If any person in attendance at an initial appearance conducted in a federal court facility
outside of regular court hours is aware of the presence of persons outside the facility who wish to attend
the proceeding, such person should advise the judicial officer promptly and prior to commencement of
the proceeding.
United States District Court
Eastern District of Michigan
(3) If the judicial officer is aware that there are persons outside the facility who wish to attend
the proceeding, the judicial officer should then confer with the United States Marshal (or designee) to
determine whether court security officers and/or deputy marshals must be summoned to ensure the
security of the facility and the safety of those already present if the persons outside are allowed to enter.
This determination will take into account the requirement of this rule that all persons entering the facility
must pass through the magnetometer as well as the need to ensure that the persons who enter do not
have unrestricted access to areas of the facility other than the courtroom in which the judicial proceeding
is to take place.
(4) The United States Marshal (or designee) may confer with any law enforcement officers
who are present to determine whether there are a sufficient number of such officers already in the facility
for security purposes. The United States Marshal (or designee) may exercise, in his or her discretion, one
of the following options:
(A) utilize federal law enforcement officers already present in the facility to assume
the additional duties involved in providing adequate security; or
(B) summon court security officers or deputy marshals to the facility for the purpose
of providing adequate security.
(5) If adequate security arrangements are not possible that will allow for a court proceeding
to take place without unnecessary delay, the judicial officer may proceed to conduct the initial appearance
of the defendant or material witness without ordering that any persons outside the facility be allowed to
enter and attend. If any persons are excluded, the judicial officer at the outset of the initial appearance
will place on the record the actions taken and the reasons for these actions. The parties who are present
shall be permitted to place any objections on the record.
(g) Compliance.
(1) The United States Marshals Service, or any judicial officer sua sponte, and the custodians
of federal court facilities may enforce this rule, or
(2) the United States Attorney may require any person who violates this rule to appear before
a judge of this court to answer to a charge of contempt.
March 1, 2018
United States District Court
Eastern District of Michigan
