(a) Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 63A(7), amended December 5, 2003, it is hereby ordered that the taking of photographs, audio or video recordings, or broadcasting by radio, television or other electronic means, in connection with any judicial proceeding, in any courtroom or in areas immediately adjacent to any courtroom, including public hallways, of any courthouse of this circuit are prohibited. This prohibition includes the audio or video transmissions or recordings of judicial proceedings made by telephones, personal data assistants, laptop computers, cellular telephones and other wired or wireless data transmission and recording devices. (amended eff. 08/01/10)
(b) Anyone found using equipment to record or transmit court proceedings in violation of this rule shall be subject to prosecution for Contempt.
As used in this rule, a personal electronic device is a piece of equipment that has audio capabilities only and is incapable of video recordation or broadcast. Such devices include but are not limited to cell phones, laptops, dictation machines and personal digital assistants. Personal electronic devices are permitted in the Judicial Office Facility for use outside of courtrooms, so long as such use does not interfere with the intended public use of those areas and does not involve the recording or broadcasting of judicial proceedings. All personal electronic devices brought into a courtroom must be turned off, unless the judge specifically orders otherwise.
(c) Access to the Judicial Office Facility shall not be denied to the following persons possessing cellular telephones, personal digital assistants and/or laptop computers equipped with cameras or recoding capabilities:
a. Judicial Office Facility employees with DuPage County-issued identification badges;
b. Licensed attorneys who have been issued DuPage County identification badges;
c. Licensed attorneys upon presentation of a current valid Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission card;
d. Jurors upon presentation of a valid Jury Summons or jury badge. Jurors will be allowed to bring cellular telephones, personal digital assistants and /or laptop computers equipped with cameras or recording capabilities into the jury lounge area of the Judicial Office Facility, but will be denied access to those devices once selected for voir dire or service on a jury.
Except for the above, nothing in the rule shall impinge on the authority of the Sheriff of DuPage County to deny access to any person possessing cellular telephones, personal digital assistants and/or laptop computers in the interest of preserving public safety. (amended 08/01/10)
(d) The provisions of Rule 1.30 (a) and (b), shall apply with regard to court proceedings, except that:
(1) Court Reporting Services Employees may make recordings of courtroom proceedings in the performance of their regular duties;
(2) Incidental to ceremonial proceedings, any judge of this circuit, with the permission of their Presiding Judge or the Chief Judge may permit the taking of photographs, audio or video recordings, and broadcasting by radio and television, within the area of the judge's courtroom, chambers or court offices;
(3) In special circumstances as authorized by the Chief Judge. (amended 08/01/10)
(e) The purpose of this rule is to implement the provisions of the Supreme Court Rules and for the orderly administration of justice. Rule 1.30 shall not be applied in such a way as to conflict with any Supreme Court Rule. (amended 08/01/10)