Courthouse cell phone ban takes effect today

7/1/2008

Visitors to the Lucas County courthouse will have to leave their cell phones at the door starting today.

Visitors are asked to leave their cell phones in their vehicles or be prepared to hand them over to court security at one of the building s two entrances.

Cell phones will be taken from everyone except court employees, officers of the court, attorneys, public safety officials, and those responding to jury duty who have their notices.

The rule, approved by the 10 judges of the Common Pleas Court s general trial division, was the result of problems with cell phones ringing and being used in the courtrooms.

Specifically, phones with recording devices were used to record witnesses and testimony during criminal trial proceedings.