PHOTOGRAPHING, RECORDING AND BROADCASTING

(a) Photographing, Recording, and Broadcasting Generally Prohibited. Except as specifically provided in these rules or by order of the court, no person shall take any photograph, make any recording, or make any broadcast by any means, in the course of or in connection with any proceedings in this court, on any floor of any building on which proceedings of this court are or, in the regular course of the business of the court, may be held. (b) Exceptions. (1) (2) Court Reporters.

Official court reporters are not prohibited from making voice recordings for the sole purpose of discharging their official duties. No recording made for that purpose shall be used for any other purpose by any person. Presentation of Evidence. The court may permit the use of electronic or photographic means for the preservation of evidence or the perpetuation of a record.

(3) Miscellaneous Proceedings. The court may permit the broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing of investitive, ceremonial, or naturalization proceedings. (4) File Review. The use of dictation equipment is permitted in the clerk’s office by persons reviewing files in that office.

Effective September 1, 1990; amended effective September 6, 2011. 93 RULE 83.3.1 [DELETED] Effective September 1, 1990; expired June 30, 1994. 94 RULE 83.3.2 [DELETED] Adopted September 6, 2011; deleted effective [ ]. 95 RULE 83.4 COURTROOM SEARCHES; COURTROOM SEATING (a) Searches.

All persons entering a courtroom are subject to search by the United States Marshal, a Deputy United States Marshal, a Court Security Officer, or another officer authorized by the court, as are all briefcases, parcels, or other containers carried by persons entering a courtroom. (b) Persons in Bar Enclosure. Except by leave of a judicial officer, only members of the bar of this court may be seated within the bar enclosure. (c) Weapons.

With the exception of weapons carried by the Marshal, Deputy Marshals, Court Security Officers, or Federal Protective Officers, no weapons, other than exhibits, are permitted in any courtroom. No other person, including any federal law enforcement agent, shall bring a weapon other than an exhibit into any courtroom except as specifically set forth in this rule. No firearm intended for introduction as an exhibit may be brought into any courtroom unless it is first presented to a Marshal or Deputy Marshal for a safety check and the marshal reports to the deputy clerk that the check has been completed. (d) Prisoner Transportation.

Nothing in this rule shall be construed as precluding (1) a federal law enforcement officer having custody or in charge of the transportation of a federal prisoner from carrying a firearm in a courtroom on the occasion of proceedings under Fed. R. Civ. P. 5 or (2) a duly authorized correctional officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, entrusted with responsibility of transporting a state prisoner for civil or criminal proceedings before a judicial officer where a Deputy Marshal is unavailable for such purpose, from carrying a firearm in a courtroom. The judicial officer must, however, be advised in advance of that fact. Effective September 1, 1990. 96