Reporters: Federal Court Says Yes to Cell Phones

By THEO KARANTSALIS

A federal judge granted news reporters permission to bring "cellular phones, Blackberries, iPhones, Palm Pilots, and other similar personal digital assistants" into Miami federal courts.

The order, signed by Federal Judge Federico Moreno on Mar. 23, 2009, puts reporters' use of technology in line with "what is permitted of attorneys."

Reporters must agree in writing not to "e-mail, text message, twitter, type, or use their cell phones" inside the courtroom, according to Administrative Order 2009-12.

To obtain a form, reporters must first visit the intake room on the eighth floor of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Federal Courthouse located at 400 North Miami Avenue in Miami.
The form is then submitted to Clerk of Court Steven M. Larimore for approval.

According to the order, Miami federal courts will also make "space available in each courthouse" for reporters to use their cell phones outside of the courtroom.

Tom Julin, an intellectual property attorney, said that reporters should be permitted to send information out from the courtroom - and not be limited to just receiving information.

"When you become journalists, you should absolutely challenge every single one of these types of restrictions," said Julin, to a journalism class on Tuesday at Miami Dade College's North Campus.

This order does not include the federal bankruptcy court or the immigration courts in Miami.

A violation of the rules will result in contempt of court, according to the order.