- Entry of Federal Courthouse Buildings.
All persons wishing to enter a federal building housing a United States Court within the Southern District of West Virginia (the building) must first properly clear the security screening post located in the main lobby at each facility. Court security officers staff the security screening post during normal business hours. The purpose for the security screening post is to ensure that no weapons, including guns, knives, explosives or other items that are deemed to be a possible weapon, are brought into the building. Any person refusing to submit to such inspection, including inspection of all carried items, shall be denied entrance to the building.
- Persons Requiring Access.
All persons, other than those who are stationed in the building, having business in the building (i.e. contractors, work crews, repair persons) shall enter and leave the court facilities through the designated screening posts. Persons needing to use other entrances must make arrangements with court security prior to bypassing the screening posts. Workers seeking to work after hours must obtain prior approval from the appropriate officials. The court security officers are charged with the enforcement of these regulations.
- Weapons.
The United States Marshal and Deputy United States Marshals may possess and oversee possession of firearms or other weapons in the building. Only members of the United States Marshals Service and those specifically designated by that service may possess firearms and other weapons in the space occupied and controlled by this court.
- Identification Card.
All employees will use an identification card issued by the employee's agency. Employees will be required to display or show the identification card to the court security officers to pass through the security screening post. If an employee fails to present their issued identification card, he or she must successfully pass through the security screening post.
- Wireless Communication Devices.
Only attorneys, court reporters and court interpreters conducting official business in a federal courthouse in this District are permitted limited use of wireless communication devices. Audio or video recording or the taking of any photographs with such devices while in the courthouse is prohibited. Wireless communication devices must be turned off or rendered silent while in a courtroom.
Any other individual who brings a wireless communication device into a federal courthouse in this District, excepting federal employees, elevator response personnel and PBX telephone technicians, will be required by the court security officers to deposit such device in storage facilities as provided at the front entry of the building, to be retrieved upon leaving the courthouse.
Appropriate signage will be posted outside the courthouse and at the security posts, published on the court's external web site and in notices provided to jurors.
The court authorizes the United States Marshal to allow wireless communication devices for emergency situations as deemed appropriate.
Courthouse Security