Local Rule LR 83.03: PHOTOGRAPHY, BROADCASTING, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES
M.D. Tenn. — General rule
LR 83.03 − PHOTOGRAPHY, BROADCASTING, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES
(a) General Prohibition.
(1) No photography, video or audio broadcasting (other than by General Services Administration personnel, Federal Protective Services personnel and United States Marshals Service personnel), or video or audio recording (other than by Court personnel) will be permitted on the floors of the courthouse occupied by the Court (including inside any petit jury room or grand jury room), or of any conference calls conducted by the Court, except by court order. This prohibition also includes photography, video or audio broadcasting, and video or audio recording by remote means.
(2) No electronic devices, including without limitation, cellular telephones, pagers, laptop or notebook computers, and tablets, will be allowed inside any petit jury room or grand jury room.
(3) Excluded from this provision are employees of the United States Courts, the United States Probation Office, the Federal Public Defender's Office, the United States Attorney's Office, the United States Trustee's Office, federal law enforcement officers, and Court Security Officers.
(b) Electronic Devices.
(1) All electronic devices, including without limitation, cellular telephones, pagers, laptop or notebook computers, and tablets, are subject to x-ray screening and any other visual inspection by designated security officers at the entrances to the federal building.
(2) Electronic devices may not be used for photography, video or audio broadcasting, or video or audio recording on the floors of the courthouse occupied by the Court.
(3) Electronic devices may be used in the courtroom by an attorney, and the attorney's paralegals and assistants under the supervision of the attorney, if necessary to the proceeding, including without limitation, for presentation of evidence during the course of trial, provided that the attorney ensures that such device is not used for voice communication, is operated silently, is not used in any manner that will disrupt any courtroom proceeding, and is not used to photograph, record, or broadcast any aspect of any proceeding. The presiding Judge retains authority and sole discretion to disallow use of electronic devices at any time.
(c) Proceedings Other Than Judicial Proceedings. Proceedings other than judicial proceedings, designed and conducted as ceremonies, such as administering oaths of office to appointed officials of the court, naturalization ceremonies, presentation of portraits and similar ceremonial occasions, may be photographed in, or broadcast, or televised from the courtroom with the permission of the Court.
(d) Enforcement.
(1) The United States Marshal may take necessary steps to enforce this rule.
(2) Each attorney of record in a case is responsible for notifying the attorney's staff, client and any witnesses of the requirements of this rule and for reasonably ensuring compliance with the rule.
(3) Violations of this rule may result in the violator being required to remove the electronic device from the courthouse or confiscation of the device and the violator being reported to a judicial officer for appropriate action or other sanction.