Non-Media Use of an Electronic Device in a Court Facility

(a) Applicability. This rule applies to a person in a court facility who is not a media member. (b) No Applicability. This rule does not apply to the following circumstances: (1) court personnel involved in the creation of the official court record; (2) a person outside a court facility watching a live stream of a court proceeding over the internet or a recording of it posted on the internet, which is governed by Rule 160; and (3) a media member using an electronic device in a court facility, which is governed by Rule 1001. (c) Possessing an Electronic Device. A person may possess an electronic device in a court facility but must turn it off and keep it out of sight during a court proceeding unless the court authorizes its use under this rule. (d) Court Personnel; Attorney; Self-Represented Litigant . Court personnel, an attorney of record, and a self-represented litigant appearing before the court may use a phone, tablet, or computer in a designated area during a court proceeding if the sound is off and it does not disrupt the proceeding. But the person must not use the device for oral communication during the proceeding except as permitted by Rule 1.04 or Rule 145. (e) Permission Required; Timing. Except as stated in subsection (d), a person must get written permission from the court before using an electronic device— including a phone, camera, tablet, or computer—during a court proceeding. The person must ask for the court’s permission at least one week before the proceeding will occur. The court may waive the time requirement for good cause. (f) Electronic Device Limitations. A person must not use an electronic device that produces distracting light or sound or that disrupts a court proceeding. (g) Prohibited Action. A person must not use an electronic device in a court facility to record a court proceeding. This prohibition extends to recording a proceeding through a window or door. (h) Other Permissible Use. A person may use an electronic device outside a court proceeding for phone calls, emails, and text messages but must not use the device in a location or way that is audible or disruptive during a proceeding. (i) Conflict. A court order or local rule for using an electronic device during a court proceeding controls if it conflicts with this rule. (j) Court Not Restricted. Nothing in this rule limits a court’s authority or responsibility to control a court proceeding. (1) A court may require a person to follow conditions or procedures for using an electronic device not specifically stated in this rule. (2) A court may prohibit a person from possessing an electronic device during a proceeding or during the testimony of a particular witness. (3) A court may ban electronic devices from an entire floor of a court facility. (k) Official Record Not Affected. No video or audio recording, photograph, or other electronic communication permitted by this rule will affect the official court record of the proceeding for any purpose, including an appeal. (l) Confiscation. A court may confiscate an electronic device for the rest of a court proceeding if a person uses the device in violation of this rule. [ History: New rule effective June 12, 2013; Am. effective March 4, 2026 .]