My question involves court procedures for the state of: Michigan
There is a court's records office. They will allow me for free to view a case file. They will allow me to bring a cell phone or a laptop. They would allow me to take notes on the laptop, even transcribing the entire thing word for word. But, they will not allow me to use my cell phone (without a flash or any noise) to take pictures of the public documents.
They say if I want copies, I have to pay them $1/page. I need a lot of copies. Like, hundreds of pages.
The records office's supervisor said my only avenue for asking for an "exception" was to file a motion with the judge who heard the case for permission to take photos using my cell phone. I'm going to do that.
But, I'm wondering if my request can be stronger, asserting that the office doesn't have the right to restrict my usage of my cell phone because: (a) I'm allowed to have a cell phone or other electronic devices in this part of the court building; (b) I wouldn't use a flash; and (c) I can turn the "shutter" clicking noise off on my phone when it takes pictures.
The Michigan FOIA law says "a person has the right to inspect, copy, or receive copies of the requested public record". They can "make reasonable rules necessary to protect its public records", which would prevent me from taking the records to a copy shop that would charge a fraction of the $1/page. But, I'd be making the "copies" using my own equipment in their office.
Granted, you don't typically fill out a FOIA request when viewing public court records, but I'm wondering if it has applicability here.

