Earle Cabell Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse (N.D. Tex.): Cell Phone Policy (2026)
Short answer: Electronic communication devices may be brought onto court floors only by people with a written authorization signed by a judge or the judge's designee, attorneys with a valid bar card who have business in the building, and petit jurors. Members of the public without authorization may not take phones onto court floors. Photo ID is required to enter court floors. Photographing, recording or broadcasting proceedings is prohibited. Checked
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Address | 1100 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75242 |
| Public phones | Restricted |
| Rule for visitors | Electronic communication devices may be brought onto court floors only by people with a written authorization signed by a judge or the judge's designee, attorneys with a valid bar card who have business in the building, and petit jurors. Members of the public without authorization may not take phones onto court floors. Photo ID is required to enter court floors. Photographing, recording or broadcasting proceedings is prohibited. |
| Jurors | Dallas petit jurors may bring cell phones and other devices and use them in the jury assembly room, but not in a courtroom; devices are surrendered during deliberations and jurors get further instructions at orientation. Jurors may not use devices to research or communicate about their case. |
| Attorneys | Attorneys with a valid bar identification card and business in the facility may bring devices onto court floors, but may not record. |
| Governing order | N.D. Tex. Miscellaneous Order No. 63, Electronic Devices in Court Facilities (adopted 2007, amended July 2, 2019) |
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 Texas county courthouses.
Other Federal Courthouses in Texas
- William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse
- Bob Casey United States Courthouse
- Reynaldo G. Garza-Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse
- United States Courthouse, Corpus Christi
- San Antonio United States Courthouse
- Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my phone into the Earle Cabell Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse?
Electronic communication devices may be brought onto court floors only by people with a written authorization signed by a judge or the judge's designee, attorneys with a valid bar card who have business in the building, and petit jurors. Members of the public without authorization may not take phones onto court floors. Photo ID is required to enter court floors. Photographing, recording or broadcasting proceedings is prohibited.
Can jurors bring phones to the Earle Cabell Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse?
Dallas petit jurors may bring cell phones and other devices and use them in the jury assembly room, but not in a courtroom; devices are surrendered during deliberations and jurors get further instructions at orientation. Jurors may not use devices to research or communicate about their case.
Can attorneys bring phones to the Earle Cabell Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse?
Attorneys with a valid bar identification card and business in the facility may bring devices onto court floors, but may not record.
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.