VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) — Porter County judges decided to ban cell phones from county courthouse buildings starting Aug. 1 after learning that guns resembling cell phones are now available on the Internet.

Porter Superior Court Judge David Chidester said cell phone guns capable of shooting several bullets and a cell phone stun gun can be found online.

“These cell phone guns are exact duplicates of normal cell phones and I, for one, don’t seek to learn more about it close up,” said Chidester, who serves as the judicial liaison to courthouse security.

Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper has already banned cell phones during trials to eliminate the possibility of recording testimony for other witnesses to hear. A cell phone ban also removes the distraction created when they ring during court, she said.

“Every Tuesday something goes off,” she said, referring to her busiest court day.

Porter Superior Judge Roger Bradford said it appears to be in keeping with the state’s code of judicial conduct prohibiting cameras from courtrooms.

Allen County and federal-level courts also ban cell phones.

The details of the Porter County ban are still being worked out, but exceptions may be made for attorneys, police and courthouse personnel, Chidester said.

Posted 6/11/2007