WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Starting April 4, when going through security at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, you'll need to do more than place your cell phone in a bin to be scanned.
According to a new court order from President Judge Michael Vough, you must lock up the phone.
"The phones go off in court numerous times a day. We also had a problem with people recording and we have an order on the doors in our courtrooms that you can't record any proceedings. But no one looks at the door. They walk in with their phone, and they think they can record the proceedings both audio and visually," explained Judge Vough.
Vough says the courts are too busy to deal with the nuisance of cell phones.
"I had 160 cases Monday," said Vough. "For me to basically take phones off people in a courtroom when I have that many people in the courtroom, it becomes a problem."
The solution is locking phones in magnetic pouches.
If you are coming to the courthouse for business outside of a courtroom, you are free to have your cell phone with you.
This rule does not apply to everybody who goes inside a courtroom. For example, members of the media are not required to put a cell phone in a bag.
"Law enforcement will not be required. Lawyers will not be required. It's just basically people coming to court as participants or watching court proceedings," said Vough.
Jurors are also excluded.
When people enter the courthouse, if they are going to a courtroom and they don't meet one of the exemptions, they will need to turn their phone off and put it in one of the bags that locks magnetically.
"There's a pin that goes into the other side, and at that point, it cannot be opened," said Vough.
You will be able to keep the locked-up phone with you as you attend court.
When leaving the courthouse, you will be able to unlock at security and return the pouch.
Judge Vough says the county has ordered 450 of these bags for daily use. Next year, the county will have signal-blocking bags, so even if a cell phone is kept on before it is placed in the bag, it will not disrupt the court.
From the Administrative Order:
Exceptions to the prohibition on cell phones and smart watches are as follows:
A. Current and former judges and all Luzerne County employees.
B. Federal, State, County, and Municipal Law Enforcement, including Probation and Parole Officers who display proper credentials upon request.
C. Attorneys who display their Bar Association card or Pennsylvania Bar License and any member of their trial support staff.
D. An individual who displays a current jury summons or who displays a"juror" or "seated juror" badge.
E. Individuals visiting the District Attorney's Office, Office of Judicial Records (Prothonotary's Office/Clerk of Courts Office), Sheriff's Department, GIS/Mapping Department, PFA Office, Court Administration, the Luzerne County Credit Union and/or Center City Café.
F. Persons with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires them to have electronic devices to communicate, with proper authorization in writing; and
G. Any and all media personnel who display proper credentials upon request.
H. Participants involved in adoption proceedings, swearing-in ceremonies, weddings, and other such proceedings may use their devices to memorialize the event.
I. Any other exception that a judge specifically permits.