WHEREAS, pursuant to provisions of §30.15, Florida Statutes, the Sheriffs of Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties, in consultation with the Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, are responsible for security within the various court facilities of the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court, and

        WHEREAS, the Chief Judge and Sheriffs agree that an Administrative Order specifically addressing the subject of weapon possession by law enforcement personnel in court facilities is necessary;

        NOW THEREFORE, I, JAMES R. CLAYTON, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, hereby order that the following provisions regarding the possession of weapons in court facilities throughout the Seventh Judicial Circuit take effect immediately:

1. Federal, state and local sworn law enforcement officers are permitted to possess weapons in court facilities while conducting official business. Similarly, private security personnel performing court facility entry screening under the supervision of the Sheriffs’ offices and armored car service personnel on official clerk business are permitted to possess weapons in court facilities.  Said individuals must present proper identification upon entry to a court facility.  Proper identification is defined as a photo ID and badge issued by the employing agency.

2. Investigators employed by the Seventh Circuit State Attorney’s Office are permitted to possess weapons in court facilities while conducting official business. Said individuals must also present proper identification upon entry to a court facility.

3. Individuals mentioned in sections 1 & 2 above who are not conducting official business are not permitted to possess weapons in court facilities.

4. Individuals mentioned in sections 1 & 2 above who are named as parties in court cases are not permitted to possess weapons in court facilities while attending proceedings in such cases.

5. The State Attorney of the Seventh Judicial Circuit and each Assistant State Attorney employed by him/her, while conducting official business, are permitted to possess weapons in court facilities upon presentation of proper identification; however, possession of weapons by said individuals is not permitted in courtrooms or judges’ offices of the circuit.

6. Individuals prohibited from possessing weapons in court facilities pursuant to sections 3 & 4 above may secure weapons in the Sheriff’s weapons lockers available in all court facilities. Individuals needing to secure weapons should advise a Sheriff’s Deputy or Court Security Officer of the need to secure a weapon upon entering a court facility.

7. Nothing in this order precludes any judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit from prohibiting anyone, including law enforcement officers, from possessing weapons in courtrooms / hearing rooms during court proceedings in which he/she is presiding.

8. All Circuit and County Court judges of the Seventh Judicial Circuit have the legal authority to carry concealed weapons into any court facilities of the circuit.

TO BE RECORDED in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties.

DONE AND ORDERED in DeLand, Volusia County, Florida this 27^th day of September 2022.