The ban takes effect on July 20 across 1,240 state, county, city, town, and village courts in New York. Courthouses will require visitors to surrender any eyewear or headgear equipped with cameras or microphones before entry. Signs posted at the James C. Torney III Criminal Courthouse warn that smart glasses, even with prescription lenses, are prohibited.

The New York State Unified Court System explicitly forbids any form of photography, videography, or audio capture inside its facilities. Enforcement will involve court officers checking for devices and retaining them until the person is cleared. Even if a user has a modded device that disables indicator lights, the ban remains absolute.

The move follows earlier incidents, such as the Mark Zuckerberg trial where his team wore Meta Ray‑Ban glasses. Similar restrictions already exist in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania ride, and other sectors—cruise ships, Illinois driver safety—are tightening rules. The ban signals growing caution over discreet recording tech in public venues, and will pressure manufacturers to enhance privacy safeguards.