The Arlington County Courthouse has begun allowing visitors to carry cellphones, laptops and other electronics inside, lifting a longstanding ban on the devices.
The change went into effect on July 1 in compliance with a new state law. Devices had previously been banned in the courthouse, requiring visitors who arrived with devices to secure them in lockers on the ground floor of the Arlington County Jail.
The policy applies to laptops, tablets, cellphones, smart watches and e-book readers, according to an order signed by Chief Judge Judith Wheat.
While visitors can now bring their devices into the courthouse and make calls, they are still prohibited from taking any photos or recording any video or audio. In practice, this means that court documents still must be printed by staff of the clerk’s office, and visitors attending court hearings still must rely on written notes.
“The use of a portable electronic device inside a courtroom for any purpose is prohibited unless expressly authorized by the presiding judge,” the order says.
Violations of the rule will lead to a device being confiscated, the court order says.
One goal of the statewide law was to streamline certain aspects of the justice process.
“For those needing to present evidence of information to the court, that evidence is rendered useless if on their device,” Del. Rae Cousins (D-79) said in February, according to WAVY-TV.
A similar policy is also in effect in Fairfax County. In some courthouses elsewhere in Virginia, visitors must seal their cellphones inside a pouch that prevents them from being used without permission.
All visitors in Arlington still must pass through a metal detector, while belongings must go through an X-ray machine.
