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Courthouse Security Policies

Cellular Phone Policy

Cellular telephones are prohibited in the federal courthouses in the District of Connecticut, except they may be possessed by:

  1. Attorneys who display a Connecticut Judicial Branch issued Attorney Photo ID Card or any other identification that sufficiently establishes that they are attorneys visiting the courthouse on official business;
  2. Grand Jurors and Jurors who have been selected for a particular case;
  3. Individuals attending naturalization sessions in the Court;
  4. The United States Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the Federal Defender, and Assistant Federal Defenders;
  5. Law enforcement personnel and United States Probation Officers;
  6. Judges and their chamber staff;
  7. Employees of the Clerk's Office; and
  8. Other individuals permitted by the Court.

The United States Marshal's Service will maintain a system for collecting and returning cellular telephones in each courthouse.  This policy is effective September 11, 2009.

Food and Beverage Policy

Laptop Computer Policy

Laptop computers are prohibited in the federal courthouses in the District of Connecticut, except they may be possessed by:

  1. Attorneys who display a Connecticut Judicial Branch issued Attorney Photo ID Card or any other identification that sufficiently establishes that they are attorneys visiting the courthouse on official business;
  2. The United States Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the Federal Defender, and Assistant Federal Defenders;
  3. Judges and their chambers staff
  4. Employees of the Clerk's Office; and
  5. Other individuals permitted by the Court.

Weapons Policy

No person is permitted to possess any weapon in a federal court facility in the District of Connecticut, except as specifically provided below.

The following persons may possess a weapon in a federal court facility in the District of Connecticut:

  1. The United States Marshal, Deputy United States Marshals, Court Security Officers, and Federal Protective Officers;
  2. Federal law enforcement officers and agents, except in a courtroom. Such officers and agents may possess weapons in a courtroom if expressly authorized by the United States Marshal, or the federal law enforcement officer or agent is the identified case agent in the courtroom;
  3. Law enforcement officers or agents having custody or in charge of the transportation of a prisoner to or from a federal court facility, but such officers and agents may not possess weapons in courtrooms;
  4. Correctional officers of the state of Connecticut, entrusted with the responsibility of transporting a state prisoner to or from a federal court facility, but such officers may not possess weapons in courtrooms; and
  5. Other persons specifically authorized by the United States Marshal or his representative.

No weapon intended for introduction as an exhibit in court or to a Grand Jury may be brought into any federal court facility unless first presented to the United States Marshal or his representative for a safety check and the United States Marshal or his representative reports to the Clerk that the check has been completed.