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24 verbatim requirements from administrative order 2023-24 - Order Governing Cellphones and Other Electronic Devices.
9th Judicial Circuit. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from https://ninthcircuit.org/sites/default/files/AO2023-24.pdf, harvested 2026-07-25; whitespace normalised only. • The proper decorum required in a proceeding must be maintained but the Court recognizes the increasing use of mobile devices for business purposes and the trend towards “paperless” offices. • Due to the widespread nature of these portable electronic devices, judges and courtroom personnel must constantly monitor their use seriously impacting court functions. • Standards must be established to balance the use of portable electronic devices with the competing needs of the Court, judges, media, litigants, defendants, attorneys, expert witnesses, and the general public during court proceedings. • The Court must balance the constitutional right to a fair trial with the constitutional right to a free press. • The standards must contain safeguards to ensure media coverage and public attendance at court proceedings does not diminish those proceedings, impede the Court’s orderly procedures, or otherwise interfere with a fair trial. • Members of the public MAY NOT use or display cellphones in any courtroom. • All cellphones must be turned off or placed in mute or vibrate mode and shall not be used, viewed, or otherwise displayed while in any courtroom. • While in a courtroom, potential jurors MAY NOT use cellphones to record or send audio, video, or photographs, or to livestream at any time. • However, potential jurors may use cellphones for other purposes while awaiting jury selection or as instructed by a presiding judge provided they do not research a case or discuss jury service. -- 3 of 6 -- • While in a courtroom, attorneys and expert witnesses MAY NOT use cellphones to record or send audio, video, or photographs, or to livestream at any time. • All cellphones must be placed in either mute or vibrate mode. • While in a courtroom, members of the media MAY NOT use cellphones to record or send audio, video, or photographs, or to livestream at any time. • Use of laptops2 and other portable electronic devices is prohibited. 2 As used herein, the phrase “laptops or similar devices” includes traditional laptops, as well as tablets, iPads, and all other similar devices, unless specifically stated otherwise. -- 4 of 6 -- • While in a courtroom, potential jurors MAY NOT use laptops or similar devices to record or send audio, video, or photographs, or to livestream at any time. • However, potential jurors may use their laptops or similar devices for other purposes while awaiting jury selection or as instructed by a presiding judge provided they do not research a case or discuss jury service. • While in a courtroom, attorneys and litigants representing themselves MAY NOT use laptops or other similar devices to record or send audio, video, or photographs, or to livestream at any time. • While in a courtroom, members of the media MAY NOT use laptops or similar devices to record or send audio, video, or photographs, or to livestream at any time. • The electronic device must operate silently on the user’s lap, be visible, not require additional seating space, and operate on battery power. • Cabling of extension cords and power supplies is prohibited. • Members of the media shall generally sit in the row of seating at the back of a courtroom to lessen the distraction to others. • If no seating is available on the back row of a courtroom, such as during voir dire, media shall use the back row of the jury box. • The operation of any permitted devices in a courtroom must be in a manner that does not disturb or disrupt the proceedings or distract the participants. • Court deputies shall instruct anyone violating this Order to stop. • If court deputies remove any device from a person, it shall be at the presiding judge’s direction and under this
The proper decorum required in a proceeding must be maintained but the Court recognizes the increasing use of mobile devices for business purposes and the trend towards “paperless” offices.
Reviewer note: Order PDF sha256: 918b4f82606e1e41061b00008cdc2ddf867c782339c4ef277af1daf02a67f20b. Extracted from the order's own text layer.
Judge Bell caps motions and responses at 5 pages for UMC hearings and 12 pages for special-set hearings.
Judge Alijewicz requires every motion for attorney's fees and/or costs to attach a document detailing time records — no records, no fee award.
Judge Corlew bars informal contact: every communication with the Court must be in writing, filed with the Clerk, with copies furnished to all parties — and no calls to the JA to schedule or cancel UMC.