Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse (S.D.N.Y.): Cell Phone Policy (2026)

Official source · some details unconfirmed Phones: Banned for the general public

Short answer: Cell phones, tape recorders and cameras are prohibited inside the courthouse. Visitors needing a device must obtain a court order via the 'Application to Bring an Electronic Device Into the Courthouse' form submitted to chambers. Checked

CourtU.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Address40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007
Public phonesBanned for the general public
Rule for visitorsCell phones, tape recorders and cameras are prohibited inside the courthouse. Visitors needing a device must obtain a court order via the 'Application to Bring an Electronic Device Into the Courthouse' form submitted to chambers.
JurorsJurors may bring only one electronic device and must check their phone with Court Security.
AttorneysGoverned by Standing Order M10-468; per judges' policies, bar members with a service pass from the District Executive's Office may bring personal devices (e.g., a phone); laptops/tablets require a court order. Some judges bar devices during proceedings, and attorneys' devices are often stored with court security.
Governing orderStanding Order M10-468 (2014); Local Civil Rule 1.8

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 New York county courthouses.

Other Federal Courthouses in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my phone into the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse?

Cell phones, tape recorders and cameras are prohibited inside the courthouse. Visitors needing a device must obtain a court order via the 'Application to Bring an Electronic Device Into the Courthouse' form submitted to chambers.

Can jurors bring phones to the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse?

Jurors may bring only one electronic device and must check their phone with Court Security.

Can attorneys bring phones to the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse?

Governed by Standing Order M10-468; per judges' policies, bar members with a service pass from the District Executive's Office may bring personal devices (e.g., a phone); laptops/tablets require a court order. Some judges bar devices during proceedings, and attorneys' devices are often stored with court security.

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.

Sources