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2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
3 DISTRICT OF NEVADA
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IN THE MATTER OF: )
5 GROUNDS POLICIES FOR ) GENERAL ORDER 2017-01
COURTHOUSES WITHIN THE )
6 DISTRICT OF NEVADA )
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9 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that effective immediately, the following policies shall be
10 enforced in the District of Nevada.
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12 1. Firearms
13 The only personnel permitted to carry firearms upon federal courthouse grounds in the
14 District of Nevada are the following:
15 a. United States Marshals; Deputy U.S. Marshals, Federal Protective Services Officers and
16 Guards, Court Security Officers, U.S. Probation Officers, and U.S. Pretrial Services
17 Officers;
18 b. Federal law enforcement officers;
19 c. Sworn police officers authorized by their law enforcement agencies to carry firearms;
20 d. Personnel of a tenant agency in the courthouse, authorized by the U.S. Marshal to carry
21 concealed firearms in the courthouse or upon courthouse grounds;
22 e. Other properly documented law enforcement officials (state or federal) authorized by the
23 U.S. Marshal to carry concealed firearms in the courthouse or upon courthouse
24 grounds.
25 All persons not specifically authorized by this General Order to carry firearms upon
26 courthouse grounds are prohibited from carrying or possessing any firearm upon
27 courthouse grounds in any manner. This prohibition shall not apply to firearms
28 lawfully possessed and kept in locked vehicles authorized to be parked in courthouse
1 parking lots, so long as the firearm is kept in such vehicle and not accessed while the
2 vehicle is parked on courthouse grounds.
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4 Authorization under this General Order to possess firearms on courthouse grounds does not
5 authorize any person to carry firearms within courthouse buildings.
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7 2. Noise Control
8 a. The creation of any excessive noise adjacent to any courthouse grounds while the court is
9 in session, which unreasonably interferes with the working or sessions thereof, is prohibited.
10 b. The use or operation of a loudspeaker or sound amplification device in connection with
11 any microphone or other devices in which the emanated sounds are of such a strength,
12 character, intensity, or duration as to be a public nuisance or cause interference with court
13 proceedings is prohibited.
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15 3. Obstruction of entrances and egress.
16 a. Any conduct on courthouse grounds which unreasonably obstructs the use of entrances,
17 stairways, and parking lots by the public is prohibited.
18 b. Any conduct on courthouse grounds which impedes or disrupts the performance of
19 official duties by Government employees, personnel or jurors is prohibited.
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21 4. Communications with jurors.
22 a. Ex parte communications on courthouse grounds with jurors concerning the case on which
23 they are seated are prohibited.
24 b. Any communication on courthouse grounds intended to interfere with jurors in the
25 performance of their official duties is prohibited.
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27 The term “courthouse grounds” includes all property owned, leased or used by the federal
28 government appurtenant to any facility utilized for federal court proceedings within the District of
1 Nevada. “Courthouse grounds” also includes property used from time to time by the federal court for
2 purposes of conducting federal court proceedings on the days that such court proceedings take place.
3 “Courthouse grounds” includes, but is not limited to, the walkways, steps, courtyards, plazas, and
4 parking lots of these courthouses. .
5 IT IS SO ORDERED.
1 February 2017.
6 Dated this _____ day of ________,
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9 Kent J. Dawson, Chair of the Court Security Committee
on behalf of the Court.
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