Visitors heading to the Union County courthouse in Monroe should leave recording-capable electronics outside or seek permission to bring them in. An administrative order that took effect October 1 bars most visitors from bringing phones, tablets, smartwatches, cameras and other recording devices into the building.
The order, signed by Superior Court Judge Jonathan Perry, prohibits visitors from bringing in cell phones, tablets, computers, smartwatches, cameras, AI devices, Meta glasses and any other device capable of recording or transmitting sound or images, according to Queen City News. Courthouse staff, licensed North Carolina attorneys and law enforcement officers are exempt, the station reports.
People representing themselves in court or otherwise involved in a case can ask a judge or court official for permission to bring a device inside, according to the same report. Other requests are handled case by case; the station reported that people with diabetes who rely on a phone to track insulin levels may be allowed to bring one.
What Visitors Should Know About Enforcement
Reports differ on the possible jail term for unauthorized visitors caught with a prohibited device. Queen City News reported that they could be charged with contempt of court and face a $500 fine or up to 30 days in jail; WBTV reported a possible $500 fine and/or up to 20 days in jail. North Carolina law allows criminal contempt penalties of censure, up to 30 days’ imprisonment, a fine of no more than $500, or a combination, according to the North Carolina General Statutes…