IN THE UNITED STATES COURT
OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT AND
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTIIBRN DISTRICT OF omo
IN THE MATIER OF:
SECURITY PROCEDURES
AMENDED CIRCUIT GENERAL ORDER NO.
AMENDED SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF omo GENERAL ORDER NO. 05-05
This amended order supersedes and replaces all prior orders of these Courts on these
subjects and establishes the security procedures to screen all persons entering United States
Courthouses in the Southern District of Ohio. It is entered pursuant to authority reserved to local
building security committees in Southern District of Ohio Civil Rules 83 .2(e).
SECURITY PROCEDURES
Screening of Persons Entering the Building
1. The United States Marshals Service Court Security Officers sball operate an x-ray
machine and a walkthrougb magnetometer at the public entrance on the first floor of each
United States Courthouse (referred to hereafter as the ''Facility" or "Facilities'') for the
purpose of screening persons entering the building. All persons and their belongings are
subject to search by the United States Marshals Service while in these Facilities.
2. All persons (except those indicated in item number 5 listed below) having business with
the Courts or any other offices in these Facilities shall pass through the walkthrough
magnetometer for the purpose of detection of firearms, explosives, pepper spray,
incendiary devices, knives, or any other item prohibited by law, regulation or court order
:from introduction into these Facilities. These persons shall submit to further screening by
a United States Marshals Service Court Security Officer if the readings ofthe
magnetometer indicate the presence of metallic objects. This further screening may
encompass the removal of all metallic objects on their person, screening by a portable
hand-held metal detector, or other screening procedures as necessary. Any person
refusing to submit to this screening process shall be denied access to these Facilities.
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3. All persons (except those indicated in item number 5 listed below) having business with
the Courts or any other offices in these Facilities who are carrying, delivering or
otherwise transporting any briefcase, suitcase, package, electronic device (including cell
phones, pagers, electronic organi7.ers and portable computers), or any other container
(hereinafter referred to as "carried item'') shall surrender such carried item for screening
through an x-ray device and/or personal inspection by a Court Security Officer. Any
person refusing to ·submit the carried item for screening through an x-ray device and/or
personal inspection by a Court Security Officer shall be denied access to these Facilities.
If a Court Security Officer concludes, after x-ray and/or personal inspection. that any
item which the person seeks to bring into these Facilities contains firearms, explosives,
pepper spray, incendiaIY devices, knives, or any other dangerous item prohibited by law,
regulation or court order, the individual may be subject to arrest.
The following persons are exempt from the screening procedures set forth above (with
appropriate official identification):
a. Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; and
b. Judges ofthe United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern
District of Ohio; and
c. United States Magistrate Judges for the Southern District of Ohio; and
d. Other judges of the United States Courts who are serving by designation or
assignment in these Facilities; and
e. Deputies of the United States Marshals Service, contract guards on duty, and
employees of contractors oftb.e United Stat.es Marshals Service who serve as
Court Security Officers who are authorized by law and agency regulations to
carry firearms; and
f. Probation Officers who are employed by tb.e United States Probation Office who
are authorized by law and agency regulations to carry fu-earms; and
g. Employees ofthe United States Federal Protective Service ofth.e Department of
Homeland Security and their con1ract private security officers who are authorized
by law and agency regulations to carry firearms; and
h. Pre1rial Services officers who are employed by the United States Pretrial Services
Office who are authori7.ed by law and agency regulations to carry firearms; and
i. Employees of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the
United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (with appropriate
identification).
4. No person having authorized access to security areas after having passed through tb.e
screening devices or having authorized access via key, card key or other device, shall
permit any person access to these Facilities or to any elevator, locked stairwell door, or
any other locked door in tb.ese Facilities without proper written authori7.ation from the
employee's appropriate agency manager.
5. Only government employees and contract employees authorized by their appropriate
agency manager and possessing an authorized card key may enter these Facilities through
any locked entrance.
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Cameras and Recording Devices
No camera or recording device is permitted in these Facilities:
a. Cameras and recording devices are permitted if authorized for a specific occmrence
by a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, a Judge of the
United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the Circuit Executive
for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Clerk ofthe United
States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, or their authorized
representatives. The permitting authority shall notify, in writing, the United States
Marshals Service of such authorization.
b. Employees ofthe United States Courts and the tenant agencies in these Facilities may
possess cameras and recording devices. No recording or picture of the courts, court
hearings, or other functions without specific authori7A1ion by a court official (as listed
above),
c. The General Services Administration's Property Manager or his designee can
authori7.e an individual or contract group t.o possess a camera or recording device for
the purpose of maintaining or enhancing a Facility, to include repair and alterations.
The permitting authority shall notify, in writing. the United States Marshals Service
of such autb.oriz.ation.
d Tenant Managers or their designees are required to obtain permission and
authorization from the United States Marshals Service to permit, for a specific
occumm.ce, au.thori7.ation for a person or group to possess and carry cameras and/or
recording instructions into these Facilities.
Computers, Cellular Phones, Pagers and Related Electronic Equipment
1. The use of portable computers and related electronic equipment in courtrooms and
facilities adjacent to courtrooms is subject to restrictions and requirements imposed by a
judicial officer in connection with a case pending before that judicial officer.
2. The use of cellular phones in chambers or courtrooms is prohibited unless
specifically authorized by the judicial officer presiding therein. Cellular phones may be
used in public hsllways so long as such does not disrupt courtroom or other official
proceedings.
3. Cellular phones and pagers shall be set in a mode to emit no audible signals while on any
of the courtroom floors in these Facilities.
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4. Cellular phones or other electronic devices capable of taking photographs or
making recordings which are subject to the provuions of Southern Diltrict of Ohio
Local Rule 83.2, which deals with cameras, recording devices and other electronic
devices.1 An exception to the restrictions contained in this Order and in Southern
District of Ohio Local Rule 83.2 is the use of non-flash cameras and recording
devices during a Naturalization hearing and on the floor of the Courthouse where
the hearing is being held. This permission does not include taking photographs of
United States Deputy Manhals, Court Security Officers, other law enforcement
officers, or any court security device. Photographs of this nature are strictly
prohibited.
Except as specifically provided herein, no person shall possess a weapon in these Facilities.
It is illegal to possess firearms, explosives, pepper spray, incendiary devices, knives or
any other dangerous weapon in any federal building with or without the intent to commit a crime
(Title 18, U.S.C. § 930{a)(b)); persons who do so are subject to arrest. Firearms, explosives,
pepper spray, incendiary devices, knives and any other dangerous weapons brought into a
Facility will be confiscated by the United States Marshals Service, except as follows:
a. Employees of the United States Marshals Service, including Court Security Officers,
who are authorized by law and agency regulations to carry firearms, may possess
firearms within this Facility.
b. Employees of the United States Probation Office, who are authorized by law and
agency regulations to carry fireanns in the performance of their official duties, may
possess firearms in these Facilities to the extent necessary to transport such :fireanns
by the most direct route available to and from the offices of the Probation ·
Department. In accordance with regulations of the Probation Department, all
firearms shall be secured while ~ t i n the Facilities and within the offices ofthe
Probation Department The Chief Probation Officer will notify the United States
Marshals Service, in writing, ofthe names of the officers with the authomation to
carry firearms.
c. United States Federal Protective Service Officers and their contract security officers
of the Department of Homeland Security, who are authoriz.ed by law and agency
regulations to carry firearms in the performance oftheir official duties, may possess
firearms in these Facilities.
d. Employees ofthe United States Pretrial Services, who are authorized by law and
agency regulations to cany firearms in the performance of their official duties, may
1 The provisions of Southern Diatrlct of Ohio Local Rule 83.2 are incorporated herein by reference. A copy of
which is attached hereto.
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possess firearms in these Facilities to the-extent necessary to transport such firearms
by the most direct route available to and :from the office of Pretrial Services. In
accordance with regulations of the United States Pretrial Services Department, all
firearms shall be secured while present in a Facility and within the offices of Pretrial
Services. The Chief of Pretrial Services will notify the United States Marshals
Service, in writing, of the names of officers with the authorimtion to carry firearms.
e. Agents, officers and inspectors of all federal law enforcement agencies who are
authorized by law and agency regulations to make arrests and carry firearms in the
performance of their official duties may be armed in these Facilities only under the
following circumstances:
1) While transporting a defendant/prisoner for an initial appearance before a
Magistrate Judge and/or an auth.ori7.ed purpose in the United States Attorney's
satellite office. In such circumstances, a call prior to arrival at a Facility must
be placed by the agent, inspector or representative of same to the United
States Marshals Service advising that an armed agency or inspector of that
agency will be transporting a prisoner into a Facility. Additional internal
policy, developed by the United States Marshals Service, will be required
(such as lapel pins, entry log signature, etc.).
2) State and Loe~ Law Enforcement Officers, while in uniform may enter and
retain their weapons while investigating/responding to a reported crime within
a Facility, but excluding the courtroom floors.
These provisions regarding weapons will be in effect tmless otherwise authorized, for a
specific occurrence, by the United States Marshal, Chief Deputy United States Marshal, or his
designee.
Any person who refuses to abide by this Order governing the possession of weapons will
not be permitted access to these Facilities.
VIOLATIONS
A violator of this General Order is subject to arrest and may be ef\arged with any
applicable criminal offense and/or contempt of Court. Property brought into these Facilities or
used herein in violation ofthis General Order is s11bjeet to confiscation and forfeiture upon
court order.
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It is so ORDERED on behalf of the entire Court this 1°'¼ayof-':t
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2018.
~~
RGUYCOL ,JR
ChieffudgeU'ted States Court ofAppeals
.~
EDMUND
~ - ····· ~
GUS; JR
Chief Uni S s District Judge
for the Sixth Circuit Southern Dis ct of Ohio
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