Michigan Supreme Court Gives OK to Phones in Courts

[KLAW Blog]

The Michigan Supreme Court says the public can bring laptops, tablets and phones into local courthouses.

The public can now bring cell phone, tablets and laptops into Michigan courthouses under a groundbreaking policy announced Wednesday by the state Supreme Court.

The new rule covers the use of electronic devices in courtrooms and clerk’s offices, where public documents are stored.

Of course many elected clerks had opposed the policy during the drafting stage because it would allow people who voted for them to copy PUBLIC RECORDS and avoid fees source of revenue beyond what they are already absconding anyway.  Surely they will make it up somewhere else like the government always does.

The rule change improves access and “will help make sure the doors to our courts are open to all,” Chief Justice Bridget McCormack said.

The public can bring electronic devices into courtrooms to take notes, use the internet or exchange email and text messages, under the rule, which starts May 1 in circuit, district and probate courts.

Photos or video are prohibited unless approved by a judge.

Copies of court documents can be made as long as the “device leaves no mark or impression on the document and does not unreasonably interfere with the operation of the clerk’s office,” the rule states.

The rule says judges can restrict devices if the activity “is disruptive or distracting to a court proceeding.”

Policies regarding phones have varied throughout the state. In Macomb County and Kent County the courthouse allows phones but Oakland County and the Wayne County criminal courthouses do not.

Source: AP – Read More

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