Richmond courthouses now allow cell phones, but only in locked pouches

With cell phones more and more integral to everyday life, Richmond officials are finally allowing members of the public to take phones into city courthouses.

Phones still can’t be used in the buildings, however. Under the new rules, they have to be stored away in Yondr pouches, a type of lockable bag used to create phone-free spaces. That allows courthouse visitors to keep their phones on them as they pass through security, then unlock the pouch and retrieve their phone on the way out.

“This initiative aims to enhance security, privacy, and attentiveness during court proceedings, while maintaining appropriate access to information for legal purposes,” Sheriff Antionette Irving said in a written statement.

The new rules on electronic devices were quietly implemented through a Sept. 23 order from Chief Circuit Court Judge Jacqueline S. McClenney. The order took effect Oct. 1, and the sheriff’s office announced the Yondr initiative in a news release Oct. 10.

Courthouse phone policies have been a perennial sticking point in Richmond, particularly for those walking or traveling by bus who didn’t have the option of leaving their phone in a car. For years, it wasn’t uncommon to see visitors stashing items in bushes outside the John Marshall Courts Building. At one point, court officials added storage lockers, but that too seemed to be an imperfect solution that didn’t stick.

Under the new pouch system, phones have to be turned off. But court officials can allow visitors to remove a phone and use it under certain circumstances, such as retrieving information related to a legal matter or controlling a medical device linked to the phone.

“The system offers convenience to the public while promoting a distraction-free and respectful court environment—aligned with courtroom decorum standards and the safety needs of the judicial system,” the sheriff’s news release said.

It’s unclear how much the Yondr pouches might be costing the city. The sheriff’s announcement didn’t mention costs, and neither the sheriff’s office nor the circuit court clerk’s office provided information about costs after inquiries from The Richmonder.

Neither office made anyone available for an interview for this story.

Contact Reporter Graham Moomaw at gmoomaw@richmonder.org