Areas Where Journalists May Use And Store Cell Phones

Journalists are not permitted to carry a cell phone into any U.S. District Court facility in the Eastern District of Michigan without first obtaining a media credential issued by the Court.

Journalists must produce the court-issued media credential along with government issued photo identification – such as a driver’s license – to enter a courthouse with a cell phone.
Cell phones must be set to mute while in the courthouse.
Cell phones may not be used for taking photographs or recording sounds or images without permission of a judicial officer.
Media credentials may not be shared.
Cell phones may be used in the Media Center, unoccupied attorney conference rooms or other areas designated at courthouses in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint and Port Huron. Journalists must vacate attorney conference rooms if lawyers or court officials arrive to use the facilities.
Cell phones are not permitted in any courtroom without the permission of a judge and they may not be used in court corridors.
Journalists who violate these rules may have their cell phones confiscated and be subject to contempt of court proceedings.

Detroit

Journalists may use cell phones in the Media Center (Rooms 212 and 214) or any unoccupied attorney conference room. Journalists must relinquish an attorney conference room if a lawyer or court official shows up to use it. Attorney conference room locations are posted at the Lafayette Boulevard entrance.
Journalists may store phones in the Media Center (Room 214), which is equipped with lockable lockers.

Ann Arbor

Journalists may use cell phones in the first floor attorney conference room if it is unoccupied, the dead-end corridor between Courtrooms 1 and 2, or the second floor vending area. Journalists must relinquish the attorney conference room if a lawyer or court official shows up to use it.
The Court is researching the possibility of installing lockable cell phone lockers between Courtrooms 1 and 2. There currently is no secure location to store cell phones. There is an unguarded cubby box for cell phones near the security checkpoint.

Bay City

Journalists may use cell phones in the three unoccupied attorney conference rooms on the second floor of the courthouse. Journalists must relinquish the attorney conference rooms if lawyers or court officials show up to use them.
The Court is researching the possibility of installing lockable cell phone lockers in the Clerk’s Office. There currently is no secure location to store cell phones.

Flint

Journalists may use cell phones in the two unoccupied attorney conference rooms in the basement or in the stairwell next to the Clerk’s Office. Journalists must relinquish the attorney conference rooms if lawyers or court officials show up to use them.
The Court is researching the possibility of installing lockable cell phone lockers in the Clerk’s Office. Until then, there is no secure location to store cell phones. There is an unguarded cubby box for cell phones near the security checkpoint.

Port Huron

Journalists may use cell phones in two unoccupied attorney conference rooms on the first floor of the courthouse. Journalists must relinquish those rooms if lawyers or court officials show up to use them.
Journalists may leave cell phones with Case Manager Lisa Wagner while in the courtroom.