Can You Bring Pepper Spray to Court or Jury Duty? (2026)
Short answer: No. Treated as a weapon. Each courthouse sets its own security rules, so check yours before you go.
At court (visitors, defendants, witnesses)
Pepper spray and mace are prohibited at courthouse security and are usually confiscated.
At jury duty
Same rule for jurors.
Tips
- Remove it from your keyring before you go.
104 of the 399 large county courthouses we track ban phones for the general public. Electronics rules follow the phone rule, so look up your courthouse: phone policy by county or the phone checker.
Related: Courthouse prohibited items list
Other Items
- a Laptop
- a Smartwatch (Apple Watch)
- AirPods or Headphones
- Food and Snacks
- a Water Bottle
- a Book or Kindle
- a Phone Charger or Power Bank
- Medication
- a Vape or E-Cigarette
- a Pocket Knife
- an Umbrella
- Your Children
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bring pepper spray to court?
No. Treated as a weapon. Pepper spray and mace are prohibited at courthouse security and are usually confiscated.
Can you bring pepper spray to jury duty?
Same rule for jurors.