6/8/2026
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
In re: Firearms Policy in the
Courthouses of the District of Montana STANDING ORDER No. BMM-43
IT IS ORDERED that the following firearms policy shall control access by
armed persons to the courthouses of the District of Montana. This order supersedes
Standing Order BMM-38, which is hereby withdrawn.
1. General Rule. Except as otherwise provided herein, no person (including
any local, state, or federal law enforcement officer) other than United States
Marshals Service personnel, Federal Protective Service (FPS) law
enforcement personnel, court security officers, federal judges, or law
enforcement officers permanently stationed as tenants in the courthouse and
otherwise authorized to carry firearms, shall carry a weapon in any court
facility.
2. Limitations. United States Marshals Service personnel and court security
officers are permitted, in the course of their official duties, to carry firearms
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in courthouses without limitation. Other law enforcement personnel who are
permanent tenants of the courthouse may carry a firearm directly to and
from the agency office within that courthouse so long as the firearm is
concealed; however, such personnel are expressly prohibited from carrying a
firearm on any floor where a courtroom is located or into any judge's
chambers. FPS law enforcement personnel are expressly prohibited from
carrying a firearm into a courtroom or any judge’s chambers.
3. Access Without Screening Prohibited. It shall be a violation of this
Standing Order, punishable by contempt, for any resident employee of a
tenant agency to allow any person, other than another resident employee of a
tenant agency, to enter a courthouse without passing through security
screening by the court security officers.
4. Storage of Weapons. Except as otherwise provided herein, all other full-
time law enforcement agents authorized to carry firearms shall deposit any
weapon with the court security officers to be stored in gun lockers at the
screening post immediately upon entering the courthouse or at the United
States Marshals Service gun lockers elsewhere in the courthouse.
5. Exhibits. This Standing Order shall not apply to weapons being produced
as exhibits in a criminal or civil action. Any person bringing a weapon into
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the courthouse intended to be introduced as an exhibit shall present the
weapon to the court security officer at the screening post immediately upon
entering the courthouse. The exhibit firearm shall be rendered secure prior
to it being presented to the court security officer for inspection. No firearm
may be taken into a courtroom as an exhibit unless it also has been presented
to the United States Marshals Service for a safety check and a deputy
marshal report to the clerk of court or a designee that the firearm has been
made safe and unable to chamber or fire ammunition. Ammunition shall not,
to the extent practicable, be maintained in a courtroom or presented to a
witness in the same proximity as an exhibit firearm.
6. Enforcement. The United States Marshals Service is directed to enforce
this Standing Order. In doing so, the Marshals shall provide a secure area at
each court facility within the district for the safekeeping of firearms,
ammunition and other weapons of other law enforcement officers who wish
to enter any court facility of the District of Montana as provided in
paragraph 3 above.
7. Exception for Law Enforcement with Prior Approval. With the prior
approval of a federal judge, any law enforcement officer may be permitted to
carry a firearm in a courthouse for special cause. Notice shall be provided to
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the United States Marshals Service and the clerk of the court of any
exception allowed under this provision.
8. Exception for Court Security Officers. A court security officer reporting
for duty, who is permitted under the law to carry a concealed firearm, may
enter a courthouse carrying a personally owned concealed firearm. Any such
firearms must be promptly secured in a weapons locker for the duration of
the officer’s shift. Court security officers are prohibited from carrying
personally owned firearms while on duty.
9. Emergencies. This Standing Order shall not apply to law enforcement
officers responding to an ongoing threat, incident, emergency situation, or
call for assistance from within a courthouse.
DATED this 8th day of June 2026.
____________________________
Brian Morris, Chief Judge
United States District Court
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