Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse (S.D. Ind.): Cell Phone Policy (2026)
Short answer: Visitors may bring phones, but on entry all devices must be turned off in front of security and sealed in a locked pouch (kept by the visitor) or a locked receptacle for the entire visit; unlocked on exit. Tampering with the pouch is a crime. Medical/accessibility exceptions can be requested. Checked
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana |
|---|---|
| Address | 46 East Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
| Public phones | Restricted |
| Rule for visitors | Visitors may bring phones, but on entry all devices must be turned off in front of security and sealed in a locked pouch (kept by the visitor) or a locked receptacle for the entire visit; unlocked on exit. Tampering with the pouch is a crime. Medical/accessibility exceptions can be requested. |
| Lockers | Devices go in a locked pouch the visitor carries or a locked receptacle (visitor keeps the key; a Court Security Officer unlocks it on departure). |
| Jurors | Summoned and seated petit and grand jurors are exempt from the pouch requirement, subject to restrictions by the presiding judge. |
| Attorneys | Attorneys with valid evidence of bar admission (or DOJ/FPD credentials), and support staff with them, are exempt from the pouch requirement; may not carry in another person's device. |
| Governing order | General Order 2025-05 (Mar. 20, 2025); Local Rule 83-3 |
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 Indiana county courthouses.
Other Federal Courthouses in Indiana
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my phone into the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse?
Visitors may bring phones, but on entry all devices must be turned off in front of security and sealed in a locked pouch (kept by the visitor) or a locked receptacle for the entire visit; unlocked on exit. Tampering with the pouch is a crime. Medical/accessibility exceptions can be requested.
Are there phone lockers at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse?
Devices go in a locked pouch the visitor carries or a locked receptacle (visitor keeps the key; a Court Security Officer unlocks it on departure).
Can jurors bring phones to the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse?
Summoned and seated petit and grand jurors are exempt from the pouch requirement, subject to restrictions by the presiding judge.
Can attorneys bring phones to the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse?
Attorneys with valid evidence of bar admission (or DOJ/FPD credentials), and support staff with them, are exempt from the pouch requirement; may not carry in another person's device.
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.