CHICAGO — Most people going to the Cook County Criminal Courthouse will need to leave their cellphones elsewhere under a policy change motivated by "security concerns," the county says.
Currently, people coming to the courthouse at 2605 S. California Ave. are able to stow their phones in lockers. But the county says it is getting rid of the lockers effective April 2.
There are some exceptions: Jurors, as well as attorneys, law enforcement officers, media members, people looking to file protective orders and other victim's advocates personnel, will be able to continue to bring their phones to court.
Since at least 2013, smartphones and a number of other items, like cameras and recording devices, have been banned from the Leighton Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California, though the items could be stored in the public lockers the county installed.
The county has determined the lockers to be a safety threat to the court and its employees, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said in a statement.
Evans was asked by the county's Department of Facilities Management to remove the lockers. According to the department, the placing of banned items in those lockers still presented a security concern. It's best if the items never make it inside the building, Evans said.
"We must ensure the safety of witnesses, jurors, judges, defendants and attorneys," Evans said. "Our justice system must operate free or fear of harm, and we cannot let gang members and others try to intimidate the people who come to court every day to play key roles in our courtroom."
Lockers will be removed from all county courthouses, but only the Criminal Courthouse bans smartphones. A list of all banned items is posted near the entrance to each county courthouse, the county said.
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