You won’t be able to take your cell phone or other video or audio recording device into the Law Center and the Courthouse. The action was approved by the Supervisors Monday.
Clinton County Sheriff Rick Lincoln and Clinton County Attorney Mike Wolf are reluctantly recommending the new policy.
Lincoln said the move has been prompted by one individual who was using a cell phone and now a video camera to record people at the Law Center and Courthouse.
County Attorney Mike Wolfe says this situation creates some issues because of the nature of business at the courthouse plus other safety and security concerns. He called the ban in the best interest of the citizens and the courthouse complex.
Lincoln and Wolf told the County Board they were reluctant to take the action based on one person’s action but that it was time to take this step.
Wolf said it was better to defend and complete ban than trying to limit use in other ways.
He says the Clinton County policy is similar to the policy at the Scott County Courthouse.
Sheriff Lincoln said the department is looking at using some type of lockers to allow people who brought a banned device to the facility could store safely on site.
Supervisor Tom Determan said he would like other alternatives and the only ‘no’ votes with Dan Srp and Jim Irwin voting yes.
