The Elkhart County Courthouse is looking to institute a cell phone ban next year.

A new judicial order states that beginning on January 2 all visitors to the County Courthouse in Goshen will have to leave their phones, pagers and other devices behind.

Attorneys and court employees would be exempt. Non-invasive searches will be authorized and those attempting to skirt the ban could face contempt charges.

The new policy does not extend to the courthouse in Elkhart.