Local Rule Rule 83.7: Safety and Security
D. Me. — General rule
Rule 83.7 Safety and Security
(a) Courthouse Security
(1) Screening and Search. All individuals and items entering federal courthouse facilities in this District are subject to appropriate screening and search by the Marshal or a law enforcement officer designated by the Marshal. Individuals will be required to provide identification and to state the nature of their business in the courthouse. Anyone refusing to cooperate with these security measures may be denied entrance to the courthouse.
(2) Firearms Prohibited. Unless specifically authorized by the Marshal or their designee, all individuals, including all law enforcement personnel not employed by the U.S. Marshals Service, must deposit any firearm or other weapon with the Marshal or designated law enforcement officer directly upon entering District federal courthouse facilities.
(3) Use of Electronic Devices
(A) By the Public. Absent prior approval by the Court, the use of electronic devices of any kind by the public is prohibited in any courthouse or space used by the United States District Court, the Bankruptcy Court, the Probation Office, or the Marshal. Electronic devices include cell phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, video recorders, smart watches, and any devices that access the internet.
(B) By Members of the Bar
(i) Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, members of the bar of this Court may use cell phones, laptops, tablets, smart watches, and other devices that access the internet in the courthouse. A member of the bar may authorize a person providing services to them to use electronic devices in connection with a case to the same extent the attorney is permitted to use them. The attorney authorizing such use is responsible for that person's compliance with this rule.
(ii) All devices must be silent and must not interfere with any proceedings.
(C) Photographs and video or audio transmissions or recordings not permitted. Absent prior approval, no court proceedings may be transmitted while they are occurring; no video or audio recordings may be made; and no photographs may be taken in the courthouse or court-used space.
(b) Courtroom Security No weapons are permitted in any courtroom, except:
(1) when carried by the Marshal; or
(2) when offered as exhibits in compliance with Local Rule 39 or Local Rule 123.
(c) Grand Jury Security To maintain the secrecy of the grand jury proceedings and the privacy of the witnesses who come before the grand jury, the only people permitted on the second floor of the U.S. Courthouse in Bangor and on the third floor of the U.S. Courthouse in Portland while the grand jury is in session are law enforcement officers, attorneys for the government, witnesses called by the grand jury, attorneys for witnesses, court personnel, employees and invitees of government agencies located on the premises, and other people with business with those government agencies.
(d) Other Security Measures This rule sets out established security procedures. It does not preclude the Court or the Marshal from imposing additional security restrictions in particular circumstances.