(a) Definitions
(1) “Electronic Device” means:
(A) a Personal Electronic Device;
(B) a General Purpose Computing Device; and
(C) any other device that is capable of being used for
(i) wireless communication;
(ii) receiving, creating, capturing, storing, retrieving, sending, or
broadcasting any signals or any text, sound, or images;
(iii) accessing the internet or any other network or off-site system or
equipment for communicating or for storing or retrieving information; or
(iv) gathering, recording, storing, receiving, transmitting, or processing
data or information by electronic means.
(2) “Personal Electronic Device” includes any cellular telephone, smart phone, and any
other comparable device. For purposes of this Rule, this definition excludes those devices that
constitute a “General Purpose Computing Device”, as defined in this Rule.
(3) “General Purpose Computing Device” includes any laptop, iPad or similar tablet
device, any electronic computing device, and any other comparable device. For purposes of this
Rule, this definition excludes those devices that constitute a “Personal Electronic Device,” as
defined in this Rule.
(4) “Federal Court facility” includes any facility occupied by the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, or any temporary facility occupied by a judicial officer
of the Eastern District of Michigan, but not the United States Bankruptcy Court.
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Eastern District of Michigan
(5) “Environs” for purposes of this Rule encompass United States Courthouse properties
in their entirety including all entrances to and exits from such buildings. It does not include
public sidewalks outside of such properties.
(6) “Court Official” means a judicial officer, the United States Marshal and deputy
marshals, court security officers, and an employee of the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Michigan.
(7) “Judicial Proceedings” includes proceedings before district, bankruptcy or magistrate
judges, and sessions of the grand jury.
(8) “Bona fide members of the press” means a person that has obtained press credentials
authorized by the court.
(b) Exempted Persons and Uses
(1) General Policy - Except as provided in subparagraph (2), below, Electronic Devices are
not permitted in federal court facilities.
(2) Exempted Persons - Subject to subparagraph (c), below, the following persons are
permitted to carry and use Electronic Devices within federal court facilities in the Eastern District
of Michigan:
(A) Officers of the Court - Attorneys appearing in their official capacity as officers
of the Court, and law students practicing under LR 83.21.
(B) Building tenants - Employees and visiting employees of the federal court
facility.
(C) U.S. Marshal’s Service personnel - Including Court Security Officers and
contract guards, only if consistent with performance standards.
(D) Other federal, state, local law enforcement - When appearing in their official
capacity.
(E) GSA approved contractors - By written notice to the U.S. Marshals Service, the
General Service Administration Property Manager or his designee may authorize an individual or
contract group to possess a cellular telephone, laptop computer, or other wireless
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Eastern District of Michigan
communication device for the purpose of maintaining or enhancing the facility, to include repair
and alterations.
(F) Jurors - Grand jury members, petit jury members, and persons appearing as
directed pursuant to a jury summons may carry a Personal Electronic Device, but may not use
the device in any way except upon permission of a judicial officer.
(G) Judicial authority - Upon request to the court, a judicial officer may issue an
order granting permission to an individual or group, such as pro se litigants, otherwise not
authorized to possess and use an Electronic Device. The U.S. Marshal shall be notified of such
order.
(H) Members of the Press - Bona fide members of the press who present official
credentials satisfactory to the U.S. Marshal.
(I) Attendees at Naturalization Ceremonies may use a Personal Electronic or
Computing Device only to take still photographs in the Detroit Room or any courtroom in which
the ceremony takes place.
(3) Judicial Authority. A judicial officer may institute another policy in his or her
courtroom, including requiring that attorneys store their Personal Electronic Device in chambers
during Judicial Proceedings. A judicial officer located in a court facility at a duty station away from
the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in Detroit, Michigan may make appropriate orders regulating
the possession and use of Electronic Devices in the buildings in which he or she presides, but only
with the consent of all judicial officers in that court facility.
(4) Chief Judge Delegated Authority. The Chief Judge may delegate authority to other
court officials to grant permission to an individual or group otherwise not authorized to possess,
and use an Electronic Device. The U.S. Marshal shall be notified of such permission.
(5) Co-located Court Facilities. Court facilities in the Eastern District of Michigan that are
co-located with other government agencies shall be governed by this rule concerning the
possession and use of Personal Electronic Devices in all court spaces, and the rules prescribed
herein shall take precedence over other rules applicable elsewhere in the building.
(c) Conditions for authorized use of Personal Electronic Devices
Unless express permission to the contrary is given by the presiding judicial officer, the following
conditions and restrictions apply to those individuals authorized to carry a Personal Electronic
Device:
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Eastern District of Michigan
(1) While in a courtroom, Personal Electronic Devices shall be in the “off” position (i.e.,
completely powered down) at all times.
(2) The device may not be used and must be turned off except in designated areas of the
court facility.
(3) The device cannot be initiated, “answered,” or examined or manipulated (for text
messaging or otherwise) while in a courtroom.
(4) The device may be used for communication by non-building tenants only in designated
areas. Designated areas will be identified by each court facility by administrative order, to be
posted prominently in each facility and on the court’s Internet website.
(5) The Personal Electronic Device may not be used for purposes of taking pictures or
making any audio or video recording.
(6) Prospective jurors and seated jurors may bring into a Federal Court facility their
Personal Electronic Device, and electronic book readers of any kind, including but not limited to
Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and any type of electronic tablet reading device, but may not use the device
in any way except upon permission of a judicial officer. No juror may use an electronic device to
access the Internet in any Federal Court facility or its environs.
(d) Conditions for authorized use of General Purpose Computing Devices
(1) The use of personally owned General Purpose Computing Devices in the courtrooms
of this district during Judicial Proceedings (except grand jury proceedings) is permitted, limited
to counsel, and pro se litigants (as authorized under (b)(2)(G)) and only in support of the
proceedings before the Court. The Judicial Officer may at any time limit the use of electronic
devices during or before Judicial Proceedings.
(2) All devices must be set to mute before entering the courtroom. No sounds will be
permitted.
(3) Taking photographs, and making video or audio recordings of any type are strictly
prohibited.
(4) A district judge or magistrate judge may authorize internet access for personally
owned devices. Counsel, however, should still come prepared with all needed material loaded
United States District Court
Eastern District of Michigan
on the device prior to the commencement of court in case there is an issue receiving internet
service. A user may NOT access the Internet by any wireless means during jury selection.
(5) Courtroom electrical outlets may not be available for use with general purpose
computing devices, and attorneys are encouraged to bring their devices to court fully charged.
The electrical outlets located in attorney waiting rooms and other common space within the
courthouse may be used to recharge devices as needed and as the outlets are available.
(6) Devices which distract from, interfere with or disrupt a proceeding will be removed
from the courtroom.
(7) Devices which interfere with court equipment will be removed from the courtroom.
(8) No spectator or media representative will be permitted to use any electronic device
inside the courtroom.
(9) Court Staff are not available to assist counsel with the use of personally owned
Electronic Devices.
(10) Counsel must follow any directives issued by court personnel
with regard to the use of Electronic Devices in the courtroom.
(e) Permitted and Prohibited Uses
(1) Except as allowed by this section, no Electronic Device may be used within a Federal
Court facility to record, capture, stream, or broadcast sounds or images. Nor may an Electronic
Device be used on the property of a Federal Court (including, but not limited to, the walkways
immediately adjacent to a Federal Court facility) to record, capture, stream, or broadcast sounds
or images of the interior of a Federal Court facility.
(2) Taking photographs or video or audio recordings in connection with any Judicial
Proceeding (including any participants in a Judicial Proceeding while they are in a courtroom or
its environs), and the recording or broadcasting of Judicial Proceedings by radio or television or
other means is prohibited.
(3) A judicial officer may authorize the use of electronic or photographic means for the
presentation of evidence or for the perpetuation of the record. The judicial officer will provide
by written notice to the United States Marshal that such permission has been granted.
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Eastern District of Michigan
(4) A district judge or magistrate judge may authorize:
(A) The broadcasting, televising, recording or photographing of investiture,
ceremonial, or naturalization proceedings; and
(B) The radio or television broadcasting, audio or video recording or
photographing of court proceedings, but only pursuant to a resolution of the Judicial Conference
of the United States.
The judicial officer will provide by written notice to the United States Marshal that such
permission has been granted.
(5) The General Service Administration (GSA) Property Manager or his designee can
authorize an individual or contract group to possess a camera or recording device for the purpose
of maintaining or enhancing the facility, to include repair and alterations. The GSA Property
Manager must provide by written notice to the United States Marshal that such permission has
been granted.
(f) Enforcement. The United States Marshal, his deputies, and court security officers may
demand from any individual in possession of a cellular telephone or wireless communication
device, to produce identification in aid of enforcement of this rule, and if the identification does
not satisfy the officer that the person in possession of the device is authorized in accordance with
the terms of this rule, the officer may refuse admittance to this person or confiscate the device
or both.
(g) Violations.
(1) Attorney Discipline. An attorney violating this rule may be subject to discipline,
including debarment, in accordance with Local Rule 83.22.
(2) Confiscation. A violation of this rule, including without limitation unauthorized
possession of an Electronic Device, use of a Personal Electronic Device in an unauthorized space,
possession of an Electronic Device in an audible mode, and failing to turn off an Electronic Device
when required, may result in immediate confiscation of the electronic device. Any judicial officer
may order confiscation of an Electronic Device. Any United States Marshal, Deputy Marshal, or
court security officer may also confiscate an Electronic Device.
(3) Contempt of Court. A violation of this rule may be punished as criminal contempt of
court. A violation that disrupts a judicial proceeding may be punished by summary proceedings.
(4) Relief from Confiscation of an Electronic Device. A person whose Electronic Device
has been confiscated may apply in writing within twenty-eight (28) days after confiscation for
return of the Electronic Device. The application shall be made to the judicial officer whose
proceedings were disturbed by the violation, or, if there is no such judicial officer, to the chief
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Eastern District of Michigan
judge. The judicial officer may grant or refuse the request. If the judicial officer determines that
no violation of this rule occurred, he or she shall order the Electronic Device returned. If a
violation has occurred and the request for return is granted, the judicial officer shall assess an
appropriate monetary payment as a condition of returning the Electronic Device. Confiscated
Electronic Devices that are not returned, either because no request has been made within the
time provided or the request for return has been denied, shall be disposed of in a manner
directed by the chief judge.
(5) Consent to Provisions. Any person bringing into a Federal Court facility of its environs
an Electronic Device shall be determined to have consented to the provisions of this rule.
(h) Suspension or Modification of This Rule During Heightened Security. The privileges
conferred by this Rule shall be subject to suspension or modification without notice in the event
that the U. S. Marshal’s Service, the Court, or other federal agency declares a need for a
heightened level of security at the courthouse.
November 1, 2025
United States District Court
Eastern District of Michigan
