Starting on July 20, 2026, “smart glasses” will be prohibited inside any Unified Court System (UCS) facility in New York State, according to a memorandum issued by Justin Barry, executive director, Office of Court Administration, on July 1 to all administrative judges in the state of New York and New York City chief clerks and district executives.  

The memo stated, “no individual possessing smart glasses will be permitted to enter a UCS facility unless they voucher the smart glasses for safekeeping by uniformed personnel while the individual remains in the facility.”

According to the memo, the prohibition applies to all individuals entering court facilities, including litigants, attorneys, witnesses, family members, UCS employees, and all other individuals who seek to enter a UCS facility for any reason.

The reason for the prohibition, the memo stated, "is to ensure that individuals cannot surreptitiously record court proceedings in violation of the New York State Civil Rights Law and applicable court rules."

The memorandum specifically described smart glasses as “eyewear or headwear containing a camera, microphone, computer or other technology that permit the user to record video or audio – either prescription or non-prescription.”