COURTHOUSE FACILITIES

The Judges have adopted the following guidelines for counsel's use of the courthouse facilities.  Please see that your staff and any subcontractors who use the facilities are familiar with them.

COURTHOUSE STAFF

If you have any questions about access to or use of our facilities you should speak to the Courtroom Deputy.

ACCESS TO THE COURTHOUSE

The courthouse is generally open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Court Security Officers are at the front door of the courthouse. To contact the Court Security Officers please call Martin Donohue, Site Supervisor, at 302-573-6288.

If you believe you need to make special arrangements for access to the courthouse you should speak with the Courtroom Deputy.

DELIVERIES

Large objects and boxes of papers can be unloaded at the French Street loading dock and brought to a courtroom floor on the freight elevator.  For arrangements regarding access to the loading dock and freight elevator, contact Kenneth Brown, GSA Building Manager, at 302-573-6338 or via email at kenneth.brown@gsa.gov and Martin Donohue, Site Supervisor, at 302-573-6288..

We will not allow you to use hand trucks or dollies with metal wheels in our facility. Any hand truck or dolly must have soft rubber tires and bumper pads.

COURTROOM HOURS

The courtrooms will be locked at the end of each trial day, and unlocked each morning before trial at approximately 8:00 a.m.

THE COURTROOM

Check with the Courtroom Deputy before placing file cabinets, exhibits or other items in the courtroom.  Instruct your staff that no item may be placed on or removed from the clerk's or judge's bench without the specific permission of the Courtroom Deputy.  In addition, without that permission, no one may enter the jury room or jury box, or the area behind the clerk's or judge's bench.

You may not use the hallways, the courthouse lobbies or fire exit stairwells for storing, packing or unpacking items.

ATTORNEY LOUNGE RESERVATIONS

An Attorney Lounge may be reserved by a member of the Delaware Bar on a first come, first-served basis, for up to 7.5 hours daily (between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM). Preference will be given to attorneys/firms participating in a trial. In order to accommodate multiple trials and opposing counsel, reservations are restricted to one room per side.

To make a new reservation, change or cancel an existing reservation, submit to the Clerk's Office, a Reservation/Change/Cancellation request via e-mail attachment, to AttorneyLounge@ded.uscourts.gov. Refer to our web page "Attorney Lounges" for complete details.

LACTATION ROOM

The lactation room is located on the second floor of the courthouse. Personnel on duty in the Clerk's Office on the fourth floor can advise the public and members of the bar how to access the secure lactation room.

WIRELESS ACCESS FOR ATTORNEYS

Wireless service is available in each courtroom, adjacent lobby, attorney lounge and chambers. Service is provided after requesting access from the presiding Judge.

Please read the following WIFI Banner Message before requesting access.

WIFI Banner Message (Also displayed prior to logon)

Wireless Service provided "AS IS". This service provides access to the Internet on an "as is" basis with all risks inherent in such access. The providers of the service make no warranty that the service or that any information, software, or other material accessible on the service is free of viruses, worms, trojan horses or other harmful components. By connecting, the user acknowledges and accepts the risks associated with public access to the Internet and public use of an unsecured wireless network.

Wireless service provided "AS AVAILABLE". The service is provided on an "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, that the Service will be uninterrupted or error-free. No advice or information given by the providers, affiliates, or contractors of the service or their representative employees shall create such warranty.

It is the patron’s responsibility to ensure that their equipment is functioning and properly configured. The Court will provide written instructions on how to connect to this network. However, Court staff cannot provide any technical help with configuring user equipment.

Because this is a shared resource, the speed of the connection may vary depending on, but not limited to, factors such as distance from the access point, the number of users currently connected, the status of the patron’s equipment, etc. To ensure the best availability and performance, any connection inactive for 10 minutes will be automatically logged out.

THE COURT'S AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT

The court may have the following equipment available for you to use during a hearing or trial:     

• Chalkboards, dry erase boards, and easels with flip chart pads
• DVD/VCR
• Body microphones
• Mobile Evidence Presentation Carts equipped with the following
  • Wolfvision Document Camera
  • Computer/laptop interface
  • DVD/VCR
  • Annotation with touch screens
  • 21" LCD tabletop displays
• Wireless control panel with blackout and selectable input/output screens
• Tandberg Video codec with Camera and display.
• 8'x8' projection screen and 50" Plasma Monitor
• InFocus LP850  projector
• Draper Cinefold 116"x116" screen

If you wish to use any of this equipment during a hearing or trial, you should speak with the Courtroom Deputy.  He or she will review the equipment with you.  You or your staff may not use certain equipment (such as the Evidence Presentation System) until you demonstrate that you are familiar with it's proper use.

INSTALLING AND USING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IN THE COURTROOM

The Courtroom Deputy will provide you with specific instructions on installing and using electronic equipment in the courtroom. You should expect that you and your staff may use computers in the courtrooms.

The Courtroom Deputy will need to be present when any equipment or wiring is installed.  All wiring will need to be covered by rubber wire protectors.  Do not expect to be able to tape, tack or glue wires.

THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE COURTROOMS    

• Beepers
• Radios
• Cameras
• Camcorders/Video Recorders
• Tape Recorders
• Reading Newspapers, Magazines, etc.
• Food or Drinks (Water and cups will be provided by the Court)

VENDOR SECURITY CLEARANCE

If you are a vendor that does business in the courthouse on a regular basis and would like to apply for a limited access security badge, please contact Ken Brown, GSA Building Manager, at 302-573-6338 or via email at kenneth.brown@gsa.gov.

Be advised that this is a lengthy process that can take between four and six weeks to complete.

SECURITY ESCORT SERVICE

If you are a vendor or private attorney who will be installing electronic equipment in a courtroom and do not have a security clearance, you will need to make arrangements with the Court Security Officers (CSO) for secured escort service while the equipment is being delivered and installed.

Arrangements should be made two weeks in advance. Please contact the Clerk's Office at 302-573-6170.

COURTHOUSE SECURITY

The U.S. Marshals Service provides security for the federal judiciary and maintains custody of pretrial detainees.  The Marshal is Michael McGowan.  The Marshals' office is on the first floor of the courthouse.  Their telephone number is 573-6176.  The Marshals Judicial Security Inspector is Aaron Barber and he can be reached at 302-573-6176 ext 6028 or via email at aaron.barber@usdoj.gov.