U.S. Courthouse, Knoxville Division (E.D. Tenn.): Cell Phone Policy (2026)
Short answer: No one may possess an electronic device (anything that can send or receive a wireless signal or store data) beyond the security checkpoints, except exempt groups. No photos, recording or broadcasting in the courthouse. Checked
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Address | 800 Market Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 |
| Public phones | Banned for the general public |
| Rule for visitors | No one may possess an electronic device (anything that can send or receive a wireless signal or store data) beyond the security checkpoints, except exempt groups. No photos, recording or broadcasting in the courthouse. |
| Lockers | No public lockers mentioned. Jurors who bring devices on the first day must return them to their vehicle. |
| Jurors | Jurors may not bring phones on the first day. Seated jurors who sign a 'Use of Electronic Devices by Jurors' agreement may bring them. Devices must be off or silenced and kept in designated receptacles (locked in the jury room), used only during breaks, and never taken into the courtroom. |
| Attorneys | Attorneys must sign the LR 83.1 Appendix IV agreement and submit it to the U.S. Marshal's Office and CSOs. Their assistants may then bring devices, which must be silent in courtrooms with no voice calls, photos or recording. |
| Governing order | E.D. Tenn. LR 83.1 (Electronic Devices) |
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 Tennessee county courthouses.
Other Federal Courthouses in Tennessee
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my phone into the U.S. Courthouse, Knoxville Division?
No one may possess an electronic device (anything that can send or receive a wireless signal or store data) beyond the security checkpoints, except exempt groups. No photos, recording or broadcasting in the courthouse.
Are there phone lockers at the U.S. Courthouse, Knoxville Division?
No public lockers mentioned. Jurors who bring devices on the first day must return them to their vehicle.
Can jurors bring phones to the U.S. Courthouse, Knoxville Division?
Jurors may not bring phones on the first day. Seated jurors who sign a 'Use of Electronic Devices by Jurors' agreement may bring them. Devices must be off or silenced and kept in designated receptacles (locked in the jury room), used only during breaks, and never taken into the courtroom.
Can attorneys bring phones to the U.S. Courthouse, Knoxville Division?
Attorneys must sign the LR 83.1 Appendix IV agreement and submit it to the U.S. Marshal's Office and CSOs. Their assistants may then bring devices, which must be silent in courtrooms with no voice calls, photos 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.