UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
IN RE: AMENDMENT TO LOCAL Administrative Order
GENERAL RULE 4.3(c) REGARDING No. 23-RL-067
EXEMPTED PERSONS PERMITTED TO
CARRY AND USE ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATION DEVICES WITHIN
FEDERAL COURT FACILITIES
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At a regular Judges’ meeting conducted June 9, 2023, the Court approved a
recommendation from the General Services Administration to allow an additional category of
persons who are exempt from carrying and using electronic communication devices under Local
General Rule 4.3(c).
Accordingly, Local General Rule 4.3(c) is hereby amended as follows:
(c) Exempted persons – The following persons are permitted to carry and use
electronic communication devices within federal court facilities in the Western
District of Michigan:
(i) Officers of the court – attorneys appearing in their official capacity
as officers of the court;
...
(viii) Judicial authority – upon request to the court, a judicial officer may
issue an order granting permission to an individual or group,
otherwise not authorized to possess an electronic communication
device. The U.S. Marshals Service shall be notified of such order;
(ix) Members of the press – members of the press who present official
credentials satisfactory to the U.S. Marshals Service; and
(x) Federal credentialing clients – by written notice to the U.S. Marshals
Service, the GSA property manager or his or her designee may
authorize an individual, who is a newly-retained contractor or
prospective Federal Government employee, and who has not yet
received his or her credentials, to possess an electronic
communication device to attend their appointment in the GSA
credentialing office.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the foregoing amendment shall take effect immediately,
because it does not affect substantive or procedural rights and will help ensure necessary access
for federal credentialing clients to attend appointments. See 28 U.S.C. § 2071(e). Any member
of the public may, however, submit a comment in writing no later than July 7, 2023, to the Clerk
of Court by mail or electronically to
[email protected]. The Court will consider all
comments and determine whether a further amendment to the Rule is required.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk provide a copy of this Administrative Order
to the Judicial Council of the Sixth Circuit and shall send electronic notice to all attorneys
registered to use the CM/ECF system. In addition, the Clerk shall provide a copy of the
amendment to the Federal Bar Association, West Michigan Chapter, the State Bar of Michigan
Committee on United States Courts, and the Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly. The official rules posted
on the Court’s website shall be amended accordingly.
FOR THE COURT:
Dated: June 12, 2023
HALA Y. JARBOU
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
