Seattle United States Courthouse (W.D. Wash.): Cell Phone Policy (2026)
Short answer: Anyone may bring smartphones, laptops and tablets into the courthouse. Outside courtrooms you may make calls, text, email and use the internet. In courtrooms you may take notes and use data/internet, but you may not make calls, take photos, or record or transmit audio or video; ringtones and other device sounds must be off, and only silent keyboards are allowed. Photography and recording are prohibited anywhere in the courthouse, especially at security screening. A presiding judge may restrict devices further. Checked
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington |
|---|---|
| Public phones | Allowed for the public |
| Rule for visitors | Anyone may bring smartphones, laptops and tablets into the courthouse. Outside courtrooms you may make calls, text, email and use the internet. In courtrooms you may take notes and use data/internet, but you may not make calls, take photos, or record or transmit audio or video; ringtones and other device sounds must be off, and only silent keyboards are allowed. Photography and recording are prohibited anywhere in the courthouse, especially at security screening. A presiding judge may restrict devices further. |
| Attorneys | Same rules as the public. Photography or recording in the courthouse requires advance written permission from the Chief Judge. |
| Governing order | General Order 08-21 (April 30, 2021), supplementing Local Civil Rule 78 (and LCrR 5(e)) |
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 Washington county courthouses.
Other Federal Courthouses in Washington
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my phone into the Seattle United States Courthouse?
Anyone may bring smartphones, laptops and tablets into the courthouse. Outside courtrooms you may make calls, text, email and use the internet. In courtrooms you may take notes and use data/internet, but you may not make calls, take photos, or record or transmit audio or video; ringtones and other device sounds must be off, and only silent keyboards are allowed. Photography and recording are prohibited anywhere in the courthouse, especially at security screening. A presiding judge may restrict devices further.
Can attorneys bring phones to the Seattle United States Courthouse?
Same rules as the public. Photography or recording in the courthouse requires advance written permission from the Chief Judge.
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.