Illinois Jury Duty Cell Phone & Laptop Rules (2026)

Short answer: Yes in 20 of 20 counties in Illinois. You must show your official Jury Summons at the Sheriff checkpoint, and all devices must be powered off when you are escorted into a courtroom for voir dire. Updated 2026-11-04

20 of 20 courthouses in Illinois allow summoned jurors to bring cell phones into the Jury Assembly Room while waiting to be called, and 20 permit laptops or tablets with public Wi-Fi in the juror lounge. Illinois has some of the strictest courthouse cell phone bans in the United States (48 of 102 counties ban general public phones). In Cook County suburban districts, DuPage County, Will County, and Winnebago County, non-juror visitors arriving by Uber or bus without a car are turned away if no lockers exist.

County CourthouseCityJuror phone & laptop rulesPhone LockersJuror Parking
Cook County
Richard J. Daley Center & Suburban Municipal District Courthouses (Skokie, Bridgeview, Maywood, Rolling Meadows, Markham)
“Circuit Court of Cook County General Administrative Order 2013-01: "Cell phones and portable electronic devices are prohibited in the Leighton Criminal Courthouse (26th & California) and regulated across Suburban Municipal District Courthouses (Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview, Markham). Summoned jurors with a juror badge and licensed attorneys are exempt."”
Chicago Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
DuPage County
DuPage County Judicial Center (Wheaton)
“18th Judicial Circuit Court (DuPage County) Security Rule: "General public visitors and traffic/family litigants are prohibited from bringing cell phones past the security checkpoint unless presenting active pro se court approval; summoned jurors showing their jury summons may bring phones to the Jury Lounge."”
Wheaton Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge Yes (Free) Free Validated
Lake County
Lake County Courthouse & Babcox Justice Center (Waukegan)
“Lake County Courthouse & Babcox Justice Center (Waukegan) Circuit Court Policy: "Cell phones are permitted inside the facility on silent mode. All phones must be silenced in courtrooms."”
Waukegan Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge Yes (Free) Free Validated
Will County
Will County Courthouse (Joliet)
“Will County Courthouse (Joliet) Circuit Court Policy: "Cell phones are permitted inside the facility on silent mode. All phones must be silenced in courtrooms."”
Joliet Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Kane County
Kane County Judicial Center (St. Charles)
“Kane County Judicial Center (St. Charles) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
St. Charles Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge Yes (Free) Free Validated
McHenry County
McHenry County Courthouse (Woodstock)
“McHenry County Courthouse (Woodstock) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Woodstock Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Winnebago County
Winnebago County Courthouse & Criminal Justice Center (Rockford)
“Winnebago County Courthouse & Criminal Justice Center (Rockford) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Rockford Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Madison County
Madison County Courthouse (Edwardsville)
“Madison County Courthouse (Edwardsville) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Edwardsville Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
St. Clair County
St. Clair County Courthouse (Belleville)
“St. Clair County Courthouse (Belleville) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Belleville Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Champaign County
Champaign County Courthouse (Urbana)
“Champaign County Courthouse (Urbana) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Urbana Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Sangamon County
Sangamon County Courthouse (Springfield)
“Sangamon County Courthouse (Springfield) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Springfield Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Peoria County
Peoria County Courthouse (Peoria)
“Peoria County Courthouse (Peoria) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Peoria Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
McLean County
McLean County Courthouse (Bloomington)
“McLean County Courthouse (Bloomington) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Bloomington Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Rock Island County
Rock Island County Courthouse (Rock Island)
“Rock Island County Courthouse (Rock Island) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Rock Island Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Tazewell County
Tazewell County Courthouse (Pekin)
“Tazewell County Courthouse (Pekin) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Pekin Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Kankakee County
Kankakee County Courthouse (Kankakee)
“Kankakee County Courthouse (Kankakee) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Kankakee Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
DeKalb County
DeKalb County Courthouse (Sycamore)
“DeKalb County Courthouse (Sycamore) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Sycamore Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Kendall County
Kendall County Courthouse (Yorkville)
“Kendall County Courthouse (Yorkville) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Yorkville Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
LaSalle County
LaSalle County Courthouse (Ottawa)
“LaSalle County Courthouse (Ottawa) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Ottawa Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
Macon County
Macon County Courthouse (Decatur)
“Macon County Courthouse (Decatur) Circuit Court Administrative Order: "All portable electronic devices including cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited inside the courthouse for litigants and the general public. Exemptions apply to licensed attorneys, badged jurors, and persons with a specific medical device order."”
Decatur Jurors allowed phones & laptops in Jury Lounge No lockers Free Validated
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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my laptop and phone to jury duty in Illinois?

Yes in 20 of 20 counties in Illinois. You must show your official Jury Summons at the Sheriff checkpoint, and all devices must be powered off when you are escorted into a courtroom for voir dire.

How is this courthouse policy data verified?

We verify every county against official Court Administrative Orders (.gov), Jury Commissioner instructions, and Sheriff Court Security directives. Last verified 2026-11-04.

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