(a) Prohibition. Except authorized personnel in the discharge of their official
governmental duties, all persons are prohibited from photographing, recording (audio or
video), broadcasting, transmitting, or televising within the Warren B. Rudman U.S.
Courthouse (including the garage, basement, and ramp area, as well as other areas designated
on specific occasions by the United States Marshal when necessary for security reasons).
This prohibition extends to persons participating in a court proceeding remotely by video or
teleconference.
Except authorized personnel in the discharge of their official governmental duties, all persons
are prohibited from possessing within the Rudman courthouse any form of equipment or
means of photographing, recording (audio or video), broadcasting, transmitting, or televising.
(b) Persons Visiting Agencies in the James C. Cleveland Federal Building. All persons
seeking to visit offices of agencies other than court agencies which have permanent offices
located within the Cleveland building for the purpose of photographing or recording within
those offices shall be escorted from and to the lobby area of the building by a representative
of that agency. The head of that agency shall be responsible for ensuring compliance by the
agency and visitors to that agency with the requirements of this rule.
(c) Exceptions.
(1) The court may permit the photographing, recording (audio or video),
broadcasting, transmitting, or televising of naturalization, investiture, swearing-in, or
similar ceremonies or special proceedings.
(2) Unless otherwise prohibited by a judge or the clerk, members of the bar of this
court or any other bar and their agents may possess and use cell phones, smart watches,
computers, pagers, and similar electronic devices within the Rudman Courthouse.
However, such devices shall be set on silence mode, and no telephone calls made or
received, while in any courtroom or judge’s chambers without specific advance
authorization by the presiding judge. Additionally, the use of cell phones for telephone
calls shall be restricted to conference rooms within the Rudman Courthouse.
In no event shall any such device be employed by counsel or anyone else in any manner
designed to photograph, record (audio or video), broadcast, transmit, or televise any
proceeding, scene, discussion, or event. It is the intent of this rule to preserve the
prohibitions set out in subsection (a), while allowing some reasonable flexibility to
members of the bar (who are subject to professional sanction) to effectively perform
their professional obligations.
Pro se litigants and others may be extended similar privileges upon application to the
clerk of court and showing of good cause for or particular need for an exception.
(§ (a) amended, prior § (b), Exception, relettered to § (c) and amended, and § (b) added 1/1/00; §
(c)(2) amended 1/1/04; § (c)(2) amended 12/1/11; formerly LR 83.7 renumbered to 83.8 12/1/13;
§ (c)(2) amended 12/1/15; §§ (a) and (c)(2) amended 12/1/19)
