Starting July 20, 2026, anyone walking into a New York State courthouse with smart glasses on (Meta’s Ray-Ban line or any similar device carrying a camera, microphone, or onboard processor) will need to hand them over to a court officer at the door before going any further. The directive comes from a July 1, 2026, Memorandum issued by the New York State Office of Court Administration, making New York the first state in the country to impose this kind of sweeping, systemwide restriction, reaching every level of the state’s court system.
The scope is intentionally wide. It reaches lawyers, parties to a case, witnesses, relatives sitting in the gallery, court staff, and ordinary visitors alike. Even smart glasses fitted with prescription lenses are banned. Anyone with prescription smart glasses should plan to carry a spare set of ordinary prescription glasses for the day.
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