VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE

   IN RE:

PROPER ORDER AND DECORUM AND SAFE USE OF COURTHOUSE: REQUIREMENT THAT CELLULAR TELEPHONES, WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND OTHER DEVICES BE TURNED OFF IN AND NEAR COURTROOMS, WITNESS ROOMS AND JURY ROOMS

   It is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that if any person in the Roanoke City Courthouse possesses or controls any cellular telephone, wireless communication device, pager, transmitter or video recording device, that person must assure that the device is turned off - deactivated - and remains off:

• in all courtrooms,
• in all witness rooms,
• in all jury rooms, and
• in the waiting rooms and hallways that are directly outside of courtrooms,

except with a judge's explicit permission. This prohibition does not apply to communication devices used by the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriffs to provide courthouse security. A device set to "mute," "vibrate," or "transmit" has not been turned off or deactivated within the meaning of this order.

   The judge of any affected court may summarily punish for contempt anyone who possesses a device that is "on" or "activated" in violation of this order.  The judges of the Circuit Court, with concurrence of the Judges of the General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, and of the Sheriff, have entered this order pursuant to Virginia Code Section 8.01-4.  Copies of this order, and appropriate signs, shall be posted in the courthouse and environs; copies of this order shall be transmitted to the presidents of local bar associations, to local news media, and to the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

   ENTER: This 28th day of May, 2004

Robert P. Doherty, Jr., Chief Judge
Clifford R. Weckstein, Judge
Jonathan M. Apgar, Judge
James R. Swanson, Judge
Charles N. Dorsey, Judge
William D. Broadhurst, Judge