Transcript Details
Court Administrator LOSES IT Over A Camera! Tried To Seize Phone! #COPS #accountability #fyp
Summary
A First Amendment auditor identifies a court administrator who claims law enforcement authority and attempts to seize the creator's phone inside a courthouse. The auditor asserts that no statute prohibits recording in the building and that only a judge could enforce a rule violation via contempt. The exchange highlights disputes over recording in public government spaces and the scope of authority of court personnel.
Why it may matter: Records a point of friction where a court administrator acting as a law enforcement officer tries to stop First Amendment-protected recording. The result may show the limits of court rules versus statutory law, and how officials sometimes claim arrest powers outside legal authority.
Full Transcript
Turn it off. I just want to know who you are. What's your name? >> Turn it off. I'm going to tell you one more time >> What's your name, sir? Arrested for what? >> Disorderly conduct, obstructing official business. >> I'm not obstructing anything. This is my first amendment right. You're not even a law enforcement officer, sir. >> a first amendment right in this building. >> Of course I do. >> allowed to >> Is this not the United States of America? >> Turn it off. >> Are you a law enforcement officer, sir? >> Yes. Yes. >> You are a law enforcement officer? So you can affect arrests? >> Yes. Turn it off. >> I would like to speak to the bailiff downstairs. I'd like to speak to actual law enforcement officer. >> and I'm also a law enforcement officer. >> How are you a law enforcement officer and a court administrator? >> Why does that concern you? >> Because impersonating a law enforcement officer is a crime, sir. >> Then you can go file charges against me. Turn it off. >> Sir, I'm going to ask you to de-escalate. There's no There's no law being broken here. >> you would like me to do. Okay. The phone's coming out of your hands. >> It's not. That would be a violation of my rights. You have no I'm not breaking any law, sir. Why would the phone come out of my hand? >> A lot of government buildings that say you can't record and they don't have to have postings inside or outside saying that. >> Well, they do. Okay. The The rule is not a statute that you can arrest me for. Judges are the ones that enforce it, not not local law enforcement. The judge is the one that It would be a contempt of court charge. >> You're in violation of some sort of court rule, they would have to charge you with contempt, which is a judge thing. >> Right. And that's what I was explaining That's what I was explaining to the officer here that I'm not breaking any laws. You know, if there's a rule, then sure, the judge can do Contempt of court. Right. Right. >> And it's because of the size of our court, they said, "When you're going upstairs, there's a chance you could be filming victims of crimes and all that." Which they have have to protect victims of crimes. >> Could film victims of crimes on the sidewalk walking into the court, right? >> How would you know that they're actually going into the court? >> Right. Well, I mean, this is the courthouse, right?