At this time the ban is in effect only at the Hon. George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building at 2600 South California Avenue in Chicago.

The ban is currently not in effect at the following courthouses:

The Cook County Juvenile Center, 1100 S. Hamilton Ave., Chicago

The Domestic Violence Courthouse, 555 West Harrison St., Chicago

The Second Municipal District Skokie Courthouse, 5600 Old Orchard Road

The Third Municipal District Rolling Meadows Courthouse, 2121 Euclid Road

The Fourth Municipal District Maywood Courthouse, 1500 Maybrook Drive

The Fifth Municipal District Bridgeview Courthouse, 10220 S. 76^th Ave.

The Sixth Municipal District Markham Courthouse, 16501 S. Kedzie Parkway

5555 W. Grand Ave., Chicago (First Municipal District criminal branches 23 and 50)

2452 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago (First Municipal District criminal branches 29 and 42)

155 W. 51^st St., Chicago (First Municipal District criminal branches 34 and 48)

727 E. 111^th St., Chicago (First Municipal District criminal branches 35 and 38)

3150 W. Flournoy St., Chicago (First Municipal District criminal branches 43 and 44)

The Richard J. Daley Center Courthouse located at 50 W. Washington St. in Chicago, Illinois, is permanently exempted from the ban because no criminal cases are heard there.  However, persons may use cell phones and other electronic devices only in the public areas away from the courtrooms.

Banned devices include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Cell phones
• Smartphones
• Laptop computers
• Tablet computers
• All other electronic devices capable of connecting to the Internet or making audio or video recordings.

No, persons who have been called for jury duty may bring cell phones and electronic devices into the courthouse.  Other persons who are exempted from the ban 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;

These persons who are exempted from the ban must be on official business in the courthouse, have proper identification and may only use cell phones and other electronic devices in the public areas away from the courtrooms.

The ban was imposed in response to reports that persons were misusing cell phones by photographing witnesses and jurors in courtrooms where criminal cases are heard and in public areas of the courthouse, texting testimony to witnesses outside the courtroom who were waiting to testify, as well as live streaming court proceedings. 

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans explained in a statement:

“The court is sending a strong message that any attempts to intimidate witnesses, jurors, and judges in court will not be permitted. This ban is important to uphold our justice system and the safety of our courts.  Intimidation will not be tolerated.  Personal recording devices and cameras are not permitted in Illinois courtrooms.

“Of course the judges and I understand the ban presents an inconvenience for the public. I wish it were possible to just say to the people coming to court, “Please turn off your phones and devices.” The simple fact is we have tried that, and it does not work. People either ignore or refuse to comply with the judges’ directions; and the Sheriff’s staff has confirmed that their deputies cannot prevent the misuse of these devices in the courtrooms.

“It always must be remembered that a criminal case is a serious, solemn proceeding. A defendant’s liberty, or even life, is at stake. Often victims of crimes are in court. There should be no interruption of testimony by ringing phones and no texting of testimony to witnesses waiting to testify. Most important, no juror or witness should ever be afraid because a defendant’s supporters are taking their pictures.”

The Circuit Court of Cook County is not alone in banning cell phones and electronic communications devices from the courthouse.  In Illinois, 48 counties out of 102 have similar bans, as well as state and federal courts throughout the country.

If you violate the ban you may be subject to prosecution for contempt of court.  Your cell phone or electronic device may be confiscated and you could face a fine or be put in jail.

Anyone coming to the Leighton Criminal Court Building is strongly encouraged to leave all cell phones and  electronic communications and Internet devices at home to avoid delays at the courthouse security checkpoint. Sheriff’s personnel will direct persons who drove to court with such devices to return to their vehicles to store devices. 

A limited amount of storage is provided by Cook County for public transit users.  There is a $3 cost and payment can be by cash, debit or credit card.

The court will institute a rolling implementation of the ban in the remaining 12 courthouses once the Cook County Real Estate Division secures the onsite storage necessary to meet the Office of the Cook County Sheriff’s security requirements.

There are public phones located on the first floor of the Leighton Criminal Court Building.  There are also TTY phones for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The court has established a Cell Phone and Electronic Device Hotline:

                        (773) 349-2857 (English)
                        (773) 609-3344 (Spanish)