« Ind. Decisions - More on: Outback Steakhouse case settled | Main | Ind. Gov't. - More on "New research fee upsets Indiana motorcyclists"; some thoughts »

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Ind. Courts - Lake County researching cell phone ban, any plan appears limited to courtrooms; Hamilton County imposes strict measures

Yesterday the ILB has an entry titled "Ind. Courts - Huntington bans phones in courtrooms, not courthouses." Today Ruthann Robinson of the NWI Times reports:

CROWN POINT | Before deciding to ban cell phones in courtrooms, Lake County officials are waiting for the results of a security study by a South Bend firm.

As of Aug. 1, no one going to Porter County courtrooms can take in a cell phone. Judges there decided to ban the devices because of interruptions and because some weapons can be disguised as cell phones.

Brian Johns, a bailiff in Lowell Town Court, said he is aware of the hype about cell-phone-like guns that can shoot .22-caliber ammunition but doesn't believe any have been confiscated in the U. S., only in Europe.

"The chances of getting hold of one of those is virtually impossible," said Johns, who acknowledged cell-phone-like stun guns are available on the Internet.

DLZ is being paid $60,000 by Lake County commissioners to study security at the government center, including the cell phone issue.

Johns and Lowell Town Court Judge Thomas Vanes soon will discuss how to deal with the habit of courtgoers text-messaging while court is in session -- just the newest wrinkle in the debate.

"I think at this stage, people only thought of them (cell phones) as distraction issues," Vanes said. "There's nothing more annoying than being interrupted by a ringing cell phone, especially with some of the exotic, shall we say, ring tones available."

Vanes said judges have wide discretion in establishing proper courtroom behavior.

All four Lake County criminal court judges have signs outside their courtrooms encouraging people to turn off their cell phones.

Still, Judge Diane Ross Boswell found three people in contempt of court in August when ringing cell phones interrupted morning court call more than five times.

Chief Superior Court Judge John Pera said he has noticed many people put the cell phones on vibrate, but he has found that messes with court recording equipment.

"Cell phones are the bane of the judiciary," Pera said.

Re Hamilton County, a reader writes:
The Hamilton County Courthouse amended its security policy in the last month or so. Signs now ask all of those entering to remove their belts. One sign is posted outside the building's front door, and another in front of the metal detector and x-ray machine manned by two Sheriff's Police officers.

I assume that they are concerned about belt buckle knives that suddenly popped up in the local schools in the last year, among other places.

They seem to employ some discretion on the policy. They do not actually ask everyone to remove their belts, but they do seem to eyeball everyone's belts. If they have a small buckle that obviously cannot harbor a knife-like weapon, they apparently let those pass.

They do not have it on the signs, but they have previously asked me to remove my wallet and place it in the bins that are x-rayed, because they told me once that they are concerned about the real thin credit-card-sized knives.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 24, 2007 08:59 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts