Pennsylvania Courthouse Smartwatch & Apple Watch Rules (2026)
Short answer: 16 courthouses in Pennsylvania ban smartwatches alongside cell phones because they can record audio/photos. Leave your Apple Watch in your car if visiting a phone-ban courthouse. Updated 2026-11-04
0 of 16 courthouses in Pennsylvania allow smartwatches (Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Fitbit) on silent mode, while 16 classify smartwatches as prohibited recording devices and ban them at the metal detector. Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas vary sharply by county: Philadelphia Stout Center and Dauphin/Lancaster/York enforce strict phone bans or mandatory Yondr pouches / lobby check-in for general visitors, while Allegheny (Pittsburgh) and Montgomery County allow silenced phones.
| County Courthouse | City | Smartwatches & Apple Watch | Phone Lockers | Juror Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice & Philadelphia City Hall “First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Security Order (Stout Center for Criminal Justice, 1301 Filbert St): "To prevent witness intimidation and unauthorized recording under Pa.R.Crim.P. 112, general visitors at the Criminal Justice Center must secure or check cell phones at the security checkpoint. Jurors in Room 195 City Hall / Room 105 Stout Center may use devices in the Jury Assembly Room."” |
Philadelphia | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | $22/day |
| Allegheny County Allegheny County Courthouse (Pittsburgh) “Allegheny County Courthouse (Pittsburgh) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Pittsburgh | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Montgomery County Montgomery County Courthouse (Norristown) “Montgomery County Courthouse (Norristown) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Norristown | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Bucks County Bucks County Courthouse (Doylestown) “Bucks County Courthouse (Doylestown) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Doylestown | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Delaware County Delaware County Courthouse (Media) “Delaware County Courthouse (Media) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Media | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Lancaster County Lancaster County Courthouse (Lancaster) “Lancaster County Courthouse (Lancaster) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Lancaster | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Chester County Chester County Courthouse (West Chester) “Chester County Courthouse (West Chester) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
West Chester | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| York County York County Courthouse (York) “York County Courthouse (York) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
York | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Berks County Berks County Courthouse (Reading) “Berks County Courthouse (Reading) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Reading | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Lehigh County Lehigh County Courthouse (Allentown) “Lehigh County Courthouse (Allentown) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Allentown | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Westmoreland County Westmoreland County Courthouse (Greensburg) “Westmoreland County Courthouse (Greensburg) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Greensburg | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Luzerne County Luzerne County Courthouse (Wilkes-Barre) “Luzerne County Courthouse (Wilkes-Barre) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Wilkes-Barre | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Northampton County Northampton County Courthouse (Easton) “Northampton County Courthouse (Easton) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Easton | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Dauphin County Dauphin County Courthouse (Harrisburg) “Dauphin County Courthouse (Harrisburg) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Harrisburg | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Cumberland County Cumberland County Courthouse (Carlisle) “Cumberland County Courthouse (Carlisle) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Carlisle | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
| Erie County Erie County Courthouse (Erie) “Erie County Courthouse (Erie) President Judge Security Order: "Cell phones and recording devices are restricted or must be secured at the Sheriff checkpoint/pouch station prior to entering courtroom floors. Summoned jurors may use devices in the Jury Lounge."” |
Erie | Smartwatches BANNED at checkpoint | Yes (Free) | Free Validated |
Skip the Security Line & Protect Your Record in PA
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear my Apple Watch to court in Pennsylvania?
16 courthouses in Pennsylvania ban smartwatches alongside cell phones because they can record audio/photos. Leave your Apple Watch in your car if visiting a phone-ban courthouse.
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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