Local Rule Rule 5073-1: Photography, Recording Devices, and Broadcasting

Rule 5073-1 Photography, Recording Devices, and Broadcasting

(a) Prohibited Acts

(1) A person must not take photographs, make audio or video recordings, or broadcast from the courtroom or its environs during the progress of or in connection with judicial proceedings, whether or not court is actually in session.

(2) The dissemination of any recorded courtroom transmissions by any means, for any purpose, by or to any person, without an order authorizing such dissemination is prohibited. Any unauthorized dissemination shall subject the person or persons responsible to appropriate sanctions.

(b) Environs Defined For purposes of this rule, "environs" means all rooms in a courthouse or building where a judicial proceeding is being conducted or which are being used or occupied by court personnel or proceeding participants, and all passageways and stairways immediately adjacent thereto.

(c) Judicial Proceeding Defined As used in this rule, "judicial proceeding" means any trial or hearing held by the Bankruptcy Court and any meeting of creditors held pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 341.

(d) Official Record This rule does not prohibit the Clerk's use of audio equipment in recording proceedings or the use of audio recorders by the United States Trustee, trustee, or other presiding officer at a meeting of creditors held pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 341.

(e) Laptop Computers or Similar Devices Attorneys participating in a case may use laptop computers or similar devices as technical support.

(f) Cellular Phones Cellular phones are prohibited in the federal courthouse. Exceptions may be granted for legal counsel attending court proceedings, but they must be silenced.