Kent Municipal Court

		
		
                                   KMC-GR 16
                               COURTROOM DECORUM


A.  PHOTOGRAPHY, RECORDING, TELEVISING, BROADCASTING

The taking of photographs or the electronic recording of proceedings in the
courtroom or its environs in connection with any judicial proceeding and the
broadcasting of judicial proceedings by radio, television or other means is
prohibited, except as provided in this rule.

As used herein, "judicial proceeding" means: (1) any hearing required to be
held "on the record" by Supreme Court rule including but not limited to
preliminary hearings, arraignments, pre-trial proceedings, motions, criminal
and civil trials, sentencing, post-conviction relief hearings, mitigation and
contested hearings; (2) any proceeding before a judicial officer, including a
judge, court commissioner, traffic magistrate judge or judge pro-tem; (3) all
sessions of any jury trial including jury orientation or selection, and (4) it
shall include any person participating in a judicial proceeding, including
witnesses, jurors, judicial officers and court employees.

"Courtroom" of the Kent Municipal Court means the courtroom itself, witness or
jury rooms, and any location where civil infraction proceedings are conducted.

"Environs" means any area located within the interior confines of the Kent
Municipal Courthouse, including but not limited to the entrances, hallways,
corridors, foyers, conference rooms, restrooms and lobbies therein including
probation or other offices.


B.  CELL PHONES, ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND TEXT MESSAGING

Lawyers, defendants and members of the public may carry cell phones or other
portable electronic devices into the court facility.   When in any courtroom,
all phones or other portable electronic devices shall either be turned off or
silenced. No phone calls or text messages shall be sent or received within any
courtroom. If silenced, the possessor of the device shall make certain that any
transmissions do not interfere with court proceedings.


Failure to comply with this section may result in the confiscation of the cell
phone or other portable electronic device and may include a fine or
incarceration for Contempt.


C.  EXCEPTIONS

    1. The following exception applies to sections A and B above:

       a. Court, probation or law enforcement personnel conducting official  business.

    2. With the consent of the courtroom's judicial officer, or the presiding judge
       of the court, the following exceptions may be granted to sections A and B above:

       a. News media conditions and limitations as addressed in GR 16;

       b. Ceremonial proceedings, including, but not limited to weddings or a judge
          or judicial officer's investiture;

       c. For the limited purpose of presenting evidence, perpetuation of the record
          of proceedings, and security;

       d. For the purposes of judicial administration;

       e. As otherwise authorized by the court.