Overview
- A memo from the Office of Court Administration will take effect July 20, 2026, banning eyewear and headwear that contain cameras, microphones, computers or other recording capabilities in all 1,240 state, county, city, town and village courts.
- The prohibition covers prescription smart glasses and applies to everyone entering court buildings, including members of the public, court employees and attorneys.
- Courthouses have begun posting signs and the guidance says people who wear prohibited devices will be asked to leave them with uniformed court officers before entry.
- Officials framed the measure as enforcement of existing Unified Court System rules that already forbid photographing, videotaping or audiotaping inside courthouses to prevent unauthorized recordings and protect privacy.
- The statewide move is reported to be the first blanket ban of its kind in the U.S., following narrower or venue‑specific restrictions elsewhere, and it could prompt operational questions about local enforcement and how the rule will affect jurors, lawyers and people who rely on smart prescription lenses.