Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building (W.D. Ark.): Cell Phone Policy (2026)
Short answer: No official rule for members of the public was found. Fort Smith juror pages say phones may be brought into the courthouse if set to silent and turned off in the courtroom, which suggests phones are allowed, but this is not confirmed for the public. Checked
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Address | 30 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901-2437 |
| Public phones | Not confirmed |
| Rule for visitors | No official rule for members of the public was found. Fort Smith juror pages say phones may be brought into the courthouse if set to silent and turned off in the courtroom, which suggests phones are allowed, but this is not confirmed for the public. |
| Jurors | Fort Smith petit jurors may bring phones set to SILENT and must turn them OFF in the courtroom. Grand jurors in session have phones and smart watches locked up for the session; an older grand jury document says security may ask jurors to leave phones at the screening station. Jurors may park free at the metered public lot across from the Fort Smith Convention Center (no need to feed the meter) or at metered street spaces, but not in the parking garage. |
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 Arkansas county courthouses.
Other Federal Courthouses in Arkansas
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my phone into the Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building?
No official rule for members of the public was found. Fort Smith juror pages say phones may be brought into the courthouse if set to silent and turned off in the courtroom, which suggests phones are allowed, but this is not confirmed for the public.
Can jurors bring phones to the Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building?
Fort Smith petit jurors may bring phones set to SILENT and must turn them OFF in the courtroom. Grand jurors in session have phones and smart watches locked up for the session; an older grand jury document says security may ask jurors to leave phones at the screening station. Jurors may park free at the metered public lot across from the Fort Smith Convention Center (no need to feed the meter) or at metered street spaces, but not in the parking garage.
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.