UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
IN RE: THE HANDLING OF FIREARMS Administrative Order
AS EXHIBITS No. 22-RL-107
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At a regular meeting of the Judges of this Court conducted on December 7, 2022, the Court
approved modifications to Administrative Order No. 96-012 governing the handling of firearms to
be used as exhibits in trials and hearings, as referenced by Local General Rule 4.2(d).
Accordingly, effective immediately, IT IS ORDERED that the following procedures will
govern the handling of firearms which are to be used as exhibits in trials and hearings:
As used in this Administrative Order, the term “courthouse” shall refer to any federal court
facility in the Western District of Michigan.
1. Upon determining that a firearm will be admitted as an exhibit in a trial or hearing in the
courthouse, it will be the responsibility of the case agent to obtain an order from the trial
judge permitting the United States Marshals Service (USMS) to allow the firearm to enter
the courthouse for the proceeding.
2. Upon arriving at the courthouse, the case agent bringing the permitted firearm will
announce the intention and present the Court’s order to the court security officers at the
security screening post.
3. The court security officer will escort the case agent, along with the firearm into the USMS
office where the firearm will be inspected and secured by the Supervisory Deputy United
States Marshal.
4. Once the firearm is determined to be safe, the court security officer and the case agent will
transport the firearm to the designated courtroom. The case agent will be responsible for
the security of the firearm while it is in the courtroom and shall not leave it unattended.
For the duration of the trial or the hearing, it will be the responsibility of the case agent to
coordinate transport with the USMS personnel to and from the appropriate courtroom.
5. Any overnight storage of the firearm shall be at the discretion of the USMS. If stored
overnight in the courthouse, the firearm must be held and secured by the USMS.
6. When the trial or hearing is completed, the Court’s order will expire, and the firearm will
be removed from the courthouse by the case agent.
FOR THE COURT:
Dated: December 7, 2022
HALA Y. JARBOU
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
