Frank M. Johnson Jr. U.S. Courthouse Complex (M.D. Ala.): Cell Phone Policy (2026)
Short answer: Cell phones are not allowed in the building, so leave them in your car. The FAQ also bars laptops and other electronics such as Kindles and e-readers. Photo ID is required, and all visitors and bags are x-rayed. Photography and recording are prohibited throughout the courthouse, including lobby, corridors, jury rooms and security checkpoints. Checked
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama |
|---|---|
| Public phones | Banned for the general public |
| Rule for visitors | Cell phones are not allowed in the building, so leave them in your car. The FAQ also bars laptops and other electronics such as Kindles and e-readers. Photo ID is required, and all visitors and bags are x-rayed. Photography and recording are prohibited throughout the courthouse, including lobby, corridors, jury rooms and security checkpoints. |
| Lockers | None mentioned; the court tells visitors to leave phones in their car. |
| Jurors | Phones are not permitted inside. Jurors may check messages during breaks if the phone is stored outside (for example, in a car). For emergencies, family can call the Clerk's Office at (334) 954-3600 or the Jury Administrator at (334) 954-3950. |
| Attorneys | Under the standing order, attorneys, court family, law enforcement and press may possess cell phones, smart devices and laptops in the courtroom and its environs. They may use them only for communication and accessing information, with no photography or recording. |
| Governing order | General Order 2:00-mc-3046 (Photography, Broadcasting, Recording and Electronic Devices, Aug. 2024); M.D. Ala. LR 83.4; 41 CFR 102-74.385 |
Federal and county courthouses set separate rules. If your case is in state or county court (traffic, family, most criminal cases, state jury duty), see Alabama county courthouses.
Other Federal Courthouses in Alabama
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my phone into the Frank M. Johnson Jr. U.S. Courthouse Complex?
Cell phones are not allowed in the building, so leave them in your car. The FAQ also bars laptops and other electronics such as Kindles and e-readers. Photo ID is required, and all visitors and bags are x-rayed. Photography and recording are prohibited throughout the courthouse, including lobby, corridors, jury rooms and security checkpoints.
Are there phone lockers at the Frank M. Johnson Jr. U.S. Courthouse Complex?
None mentioned; the court tells visitors to leave phones in their car.
Can jurors bring phones to the Frank M. Johnson Jr. U.S. Courthouse Complex?
Phones are not permitted inside. Jurors may check messages during breaks if the phone is stored outside (for example, in a car). For emergencies, family can call the Clerk's Office at (334) 954-3600 or the Jury Administrator at (334) 954-3950.
Can attorneys bring phones to the Frank M. Johnson Jr. U.S. Courthouse Complex?
Under the standing order, attorneys, court family, law enforcement and press may possess cell phones, smart devices and laptops in the courtroom and its environs. They may use them only for communication and accessing information, with no photography or recording.
Can I bring a gun or knife into a federal courthouse?
No. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 930) prohibits firearms and dangerous weapons in federal court facilities, with narrow exceptions such as on-duty law enforcement.