Court Rules of Conduct and Security

  BY ORDER OF THE VALDOSTA MUNICIPAL COURT 

Rules of Conduct

Violations of the below rules may result in your removal from the courtroom.

• Be on time. If you are late, your case may be re-scheduled.
• Do not talk at the same time as the Judge, court officials, opposing counsel, or witnesses.
• Racist, sexist, obscene, or profane language and gestures are prohibited unless it is pertinent to a case, elicited, and quoted from facts in the case.
• No clothing depicting violence, sexual acts and/or content, profanity or illegal drugs.
• Do not enter and/or exit and disrupt the courtroom excessively.
• Do nothing to disturb or distract the Court, counsels, witnesses, or other court officials.
• Children must not create a disturbance or they will be kept out of the courtroom.
• Do not approach the Judge's bench without permission.
• Rise when the Judge enters and remain standing until the Judge or Bailiff announces to be seated or until the Judge is seated.
• Rise when the Judge exits the courtroom.
• No food or drinks are allowed in the courtroom.

Court Security

 Prohibited Items:

• Weapons of any kind, including pocket knives or blades of any kind.
• Electronic equipment such as cell phones, video, voice recorders, cameras, or laptops (unless approved by the Court).
• No bags, pocketbooks, briefcases, boxes or other containers will be allowed in the courtroom (unless approved by the Court).

Security Precautions:

• Before entering the Court, you may go through a security checkpoint.
• You will be asked to walk through a metal detector and/or an Officer will use a wand to check for prohibited items.
• You will allow the Officer to search any personal belongings that will be taken into the courtroom. If you refuse to cooperate, you may be denied entry to the facility.
• No hats, scarves or head-covers allowed in the courtroom unless worn for religious or medical reasons.