Following in the footsteps of Charles and St. Mary’s Counties’ ban on cellular phones in their courthouses, Judge Warren J. Krug, administrative judge for Calvert County Circuit Court, instituted a similar ban this week.

 

The ban, effective July 2, applies to all visitors, plaintiffs, defendants, respondents, witnesses, family members and friends. They would be forced to leave their phones in their cars or with a court security guard.

Krug told The Bay Net that the ban is not unprecidented and serves several legal purposes other than mere nuisence abatement.

“With the advancement of technology, cell phones can also be used as cameras, to send text messages, and I have seen weapons that look like cell phones,” Krug wrote. “A specific concern is witness testimony being text messaged to witnesses who are waiting to testify outside the courtroom. Another concern is juror and witness intimidation by photographing them with cell phones.”

Krug did make some exceptions, including court employees and officials as well as county employees and contractors. Krug also exempted telephone and security contractors and title abstractors, but not the press.

“Title examiners who work in the courthose on a daily basis were exempted because there are no telephones in the land records room and they need telephone access to conduct their business,” Krug wrote, responding to a question about the exemption.

In his order, Krug encouraged those who would be allowed to carry cell phones to limit their use in order to “minimize confusion and dissatisfaction among visitors.”

“There was no specific incident that triggered the policy,” Krug wrote, responding to questions. He stated that the state’s District Court put a similar policy in place last year and that his policy was approved by the Calvert County Commissioners.

Krug also admitted that there is a nuisence factor, saying, “Cell phones going off during proceedings is also a disruption.”

Krug’s full order appears below:

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR CALVERT COUNTY,  MARYLAND

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

PROHIBITION OF CELL PHONES IN THE COURTHOUSE

AT

175 MAIN STREET
PRINCE FREDERICK,  MARYLAND 20678

Due to safety and security concerns, effective July 2, 2007, all visitors (members of the public visiting any office or area within the building, as well as parties in a court case – plaintiffs, defendants, respondents, witnesses, and family members and friends of such parties) are prohibited from bringing cell phones into the building.  Any visitor appearing at the front door security station with a cell phone will be required to return that phone to their private vehicle.  If the visitor does not have a private vehicle, the security officer will take the phone and store it in a locker until the visitor