Local Rule LR Gen P 1.01: Courthouse Security

LR Gen P 1.01. Courthouse Security.

(a) Entry of Federal Courthouse Buildings: All persons wishing to enter a federal building housing a United States Court within the Northern District of West Virginia (the building) must first properly clear the security screening post located in the main lobby at each facility. Court Security Officers staff the security screening post during normal business hours. The purpose for the security screening post is to ensure that no weapons, including guns, knives, explosives or other items that are deemed by a Deputy United States Marshal or Court Security Officer to be possible weapons, are brought into the building. Any person refusing to submit to an inspection, including inspection of all carried items, shall be denied entrance to the building.

(b) Persons Requiring Access: All persons, other than those who are stationed in the building, having business in the building (e.g., contractors, work crews and repair persons) shall enter and leave the Court facilities through the designated screening posts. Persons needing to use other entrances must make arrangements with Court Security prior to bypassing the screening posts. Workers seeking to work after hours must obtain prior approval from the appropriate officials. The United States Marshals Service and Court Security Officers are charged with the enforcement of these regulations.

(c) Weapons: The United States Marshal, Deputy United States Marshals and Court Security Officers may possess and oversee possession of firearms or other weapons in the building. Federal law enforcement agencies who have offices in the building, including but not limited to, the United States Probation Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Office of the United States Attorney, shall be authorized to possess weapons on a direct route from the security screening post to their respective offices and return. No agency personnel may carry weapons inside any courtroom without specific authorization from the United States Marshal and the presiding judge. All agencies shall provide written authorization to the United States Marshal identifying which specific employees are authorized to carry weapons in the building. All other employees are prohibited from possessing weapons within the building. State, city and local law enforcement officers are required to secure their weapons with the Court Security Officers and successfully pass through the security screening post.

(d) Identification Card: All employees must use an identification card issued by the employee's agency. In order to bypass the security screening post and use an employee entrance, employees will be required to display or show the identification card to the Court Security Officers. If an employee fails to present an agency issued identification card, he or she must successfully pass through the security screening post.

(e) Enforcement: The United States Marshals and Court Security Officers are to coordinate enforcement of this Local Rule and to take into custody any person violating its provisions. Any person who violates the provisions of this Local Rule shall be brought before the Court without unnecessary delay. The United States Marshals or Court Security Officers shall promptly take into their custodial possession all weapons or other items that are, or could be, used as possible weapons that have been carried into the building in violation of federal laws or the laws of the State of West Virginia. The United States Marshals shall retain the weapons or items until the possessor makes a proper showing that possession thereof is lawful. If the weapons or items are not lawfully reclaimed within thirty (30) days, they may be disposed of according to law.