2025 Admin Order 25-19

25-19 IN RE: JUDICIAL FACILITIES – ELECTRONIC RECORDING BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC - ORDERED 3/24/2025 BY CHARLES G. CRAWFORD

JUDICIAL FACILITIES – ELECTRONIC RECORDING BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC

WHEREAS, the Court has the responsibility to preserve the dignity and decorum of the courthouse, the fair administration of justice, and the safety and security of all employees and citizens who enter the courthouses in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit;

WHEREAS, within all courthouses in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, a danger to existing security measures occurs when recording by electronic devices captures security features that are in place throughout the courthouses, including but not limited to, sensitive witnesses such as undercover police officers and protected witnesses who are required to appear in court, and jurors or potential jurors who are required to appear in the courthouse;

WHEREAS, as a result of this danger to existing security measures, it is necessary to prohibit members of the general public from using electronic devices to record within the interior of all courthouses in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit absent specific permission being granted by the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida;

WHEREAS, Rule 2.451(d)(2), Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, states that the “use of electronic devices in a courthouse or court facility is subject at all times to the authority of the chief judge to (A) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; (B) ensure the fair administration of justice; and (C) preserve court security.”

WHEREAS, electronic recording inside any courtroom or hearing room shall continue to be permitted at the discretion of the presiding judge and shall continue to be governed by Rule 2.450, Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Rule 6.460(b), Florida Rules of Traffic Court, and all applicable Administrative Orders that are currently in effect and nothing herein shall be construed to affect those practices;

WHEREAS, Chapter 810.08, Florida Statutes, provides that someone who remains in a structure having been warned by a person authorized by the owner or lessee of that structure to depart from that structure and refuses to do so, has committed the offense of trespass.

NOW THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit and pursuant to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, it is hereby

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that:

1. Any member of the general public who seeks to electronically record within the interior of any state or county courthouse may apply for permission ten (10) days prior to the requested recording date through the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Courthouse using the form attached to this Administrative Order as Attachment “A.”
2. Absent permission from the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, members of the general public are prohibited from using electronic devices to record within the interior of any state or county courthouse, annex, or judicial structure within the boundaries of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Electronic recording shall include taking photographs, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, and telecasting.
3. Other uses of electronic devices shall continue to be governed by Rules 2.450 and 2.451, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, Rule 6.460(b), Florida Rules of Traffic Court, and the authority of the Chief Judge pursuant to Rule 2.45l(c)(2), Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.
4. In the event that a person from the general public who does not have permission to electronically record from the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit is found to be recording within the interior of any courthouse in violation of this Order, and that person fails to comply with a request to cease recording, that person shall be escorted out of the courthouse and not permitted to return until such time as that person is no longer in possession of any electronic and/or recording devices. If a person is escorted out of the said courthouse pursuant to this order, that action shall not excuse the person from failing to appear in court as required.
5. This order shall in no way abrogate or amend Rule 2.451, Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration or Amended AO 23-22, Administrative Orders 18th Judicial Circuit.
6. This Administrative Order will authorize the Sheriff’s Office of both Seminole and Brevard Counties to escort individuals from the courthouse and issue trespass warnings to individuals refusing to comply with or violating this Administrative Order by not ceasing to electronically record within the courthouse.
   1. Persons willfully remaining in any courthouse within the jurisdiction of the Circuit shall be subject to the trespass procedures set forth in this section. Any person within a courthouse on county property who violates state law pursuant to section 810.08 or 810.09, Florida Statutes, may be directed to leave the courthouse property and shall be deemed to be trespassing if such person refuses to stop electronically recording within the courthouse property.
   2. The County Sheriff and duly sworn deputies (“Sheriff”) may issue trespass warnings to any person trespassing on courthouse property. The trespass warning shall be limited to the specific courthouse property where the violation occurred. The Sheriff shall not issue a trespass warning pursuant to this section unless the Sheriff first verbally informs the person that they are violating this Administrative Order on courthouse property and asked to cease recording immediately. The Sheriff shall not issue a trespass warning pursuant to this section unless the person refuses to abide by the Sheriff’s instruction.
   3. Further, persons issued a trespass warning are prohibited from reentering or returning to courthouse property from which they were trespassed until they stop recording the interior of the courthouse premises.
   4. A copy of the trespass warning shall be provided by U.S. mail or hand delivery to (1) the person given the warning and (2) the Circuit Chief Judge or the Circuit Trial Court Administrator or official having control over the county property where the violation occurred. The trespass warning shall include information advising of the right to appeal.
7. This Administrative Order shall be recorded by the Clerks of Court, in the Official Records of both Seminole and Brevard Counties, in the State of Florida, and shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect unless and until otherwise ordered by this Honorable Court.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Viera, Brevard County, Florida, this 24th day of March 2025.

CHARLIE CRAWFORD
CHIEF JUDGE