Cell phone ban to go into effect at 26th and California

Yesterday, Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced that on Monday, April 15, no electronic communications and internet devices will be allowed at the felony courthouse at 26th and California. The ban was initially announced earlier this year but enforcement was postponed. The Court indicated that the ban will be extended on a rolling basis to the other courthouses, with the exception of the Richard J. Daley Center.

The Court indicated that the purpose of the ban is to ensure the integrity of the criminal proceeding and safety of all parties. Certain persons will be allowed to carry devices into the court house. They include:

1. persons with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, who require electronic devices for effective communication;
2. current or former judges;
3. licensed attorneys;
4. members of the news media;
5. local, state, and federal law enforcement officers;
6. employees of any local, state, or federal government agencies or offices;
7. any person reporting for jury duty pursuant to summons;
8. building and maintenance tradespeople, equipment repairpersons, and vendors;
9. domestic violence advocates and counselors as defined by 750 ILCS 60/227(a)(2);
10. authorized employees and agents of attorneys;
11. any person or category of persons pursuant to order of court;
12. persons who are present at the courthouse to obtain civil orders of protection, stalking no contact orders, or civil no contact orders or parties to a proceeding who are present at the courthouse to attend a proceeding related to an underlying order of protection, stalking no contact order, civil no contact order or other related proceedings;
13. participants in a domestic violence assistance program;
14. persons required by court order or the sheriff to wear an electronic monitoring device; and
15. parties to orders of protection who are required to carry a GPS devices.

The full press release may be found at the Court’s website at: https://www.cookcountycourt.org/MEDIA/ViewPressRelease/tabid/338/ArticleId/2199/Electronic-communications-Internet-devices-ban-goes-into-effect-April-15-at-26th-and-California.aspx

Lori G. Levin
Attorney at Law
180 N. LaSalle, Suite 3700
Chicago, IL 60601
312-767-2356
[email protected]
www.lorilevinlaw.com