Over the past couple of months, there’s been notable U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the Chesterfield County Courthouse, violating what Chesterfield Clerk of Court Amanda Pohl called the “hallowed ground” and “sacred area” of the courthouse.According to sources and documents I’ve reviewed, there’s serious concern that Chesterfield County General District Court clerk staff, bailiffs, and other courtroom officials have been passing post-it notes with names of select defendants within the courtroom. After a defendant listed on such a post-it note finishes in court, regardless of the outcome of the hearing, courthouse officials then communicate and act such that ICE can intercept the individual on the premises.This seems to be gist of the allegation.If such post-it note activity is occurring, the notes are clearly presumed public by law until a proper code exemption is asserted and, potentially, upheld in court. While there may be surveillance video footage that also reveals the existence of such notes, it’s easy to imagine future criminal and/or civil litigation in which these notes themselves could constitute important evidence.ShareOn July 21, 2025, I sent a FOIA request to Chesterfield Circuit Court Clerk Amanda Pohl, seeking: (1) Copies of any "post-it" or similar notes containing names of defendants subsequently detained by ICE or other federal authorities in the Chesterfield County Courthouse in 2025;(2) Copies of any "post it" or similar notes containing names of defendants scheduled for hearings in Chesterfield County General District Court on June 25, 2025.(3) Copies of any retention schedules (either internal or via Library of Virginia) which regulate the retention of such notes identifying defendants subject to imminent federal action, notes reportedly passed between clerks, bailiffs, and other courtroom staff during official business hours.The next day, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office responded to my request in part:“The Chesterfield Circuit Court does not have "post-it notes" with defendant information.Please contact the General District Court (GDC) Clerk's Office for record requests. The GDC is a different type of court and separate Clerk’s Office from the Circuit Court. The Chesterfield General District Court Clerk’s Office can be reached at: 804-748-1231, as they do not have an email at this time.”I then followed up on the question of retention schedules and was referred to the Library of Virginia’s online retention schedule list, suggesting the Chesterfield Circuit Court Clerk’s Office doesn’t have their own internal schedules governing the retention of post-it notes and similar presumably public records. I also confirmed that the Chesterfield General District Court Clerk’s Office does not have a public email address of any kind.This morning, I called the Clerk’s number on the Chesterfield General District Court website. After nearly 20 minutes on automated hold, I was able to speak to someone who confirmed that no public email addresses exist to which I could send a FOIA request or any other message.The Chesterfield General District Court Clerk’s Office receives documents solely by fax, mail, and in-person interaction, I was told. “We only use email for internal use.”I was then transferred to a supervisor’s number, and I left a voicemail stating my name, address, and articulating a FOIA request for copies of any "post-it" or similar notes containing names of defendants scheduled for hearings in Chesterfield County General District Court on June 25, 2025.A short while later, I missed a call but received a voicemail from this supervisor providing me with the direct phone number for Chesterfield General District Court Clerk Linda Moore. I called that number today and left a voicemail reiterating my FOIA request and explaining the situation.Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act does not require a FOIA request to be in writing, though it does require a written response from the government (see Va. Code § 2.2-3704(B)).As we wait for a response to this request, ruminate on the reality that — in the 21st century — the Chesterfield General District Court does not allow email communication with the public. And consider, if the alleged ICE facilitation via post-it note is indeed taking place in Chesterfield County, that the practice may be more widespread in courthouses across the Commonwealth.More reporting on recent ICE activity at the Chesterfield County Courthouse:Virginia Public Media (Billy Shields, 7.21.25): "Ongoing courthouse ICE detentions raise concern in Chesterfield”Richmond Times-Dispatch (Luca Powell, 7.16.25): "ICE returns to Chesterfield County courthouse, but only arrests one as some skip cases entirely”The Virginia Mercury (Markus Schmidt, 6.27.25): "'Hallowed ground, desecrated’: ICE sweeps at Chesterfield court draw fierce backlash”Virginia Public Media (Billy Shields, 6.25.25): "ICE is conducting daily detentions at Chesterfield County Courthouse”WWBT (Desiree Montilla, 6.25.25): "‘Hurts my heart’: Group voices concerns about ICE detaining over one dozen people at Chesterfield courthouse”The Richmonder (Victoria Ifatusin, 6.25.25): “Protestors rally outside Chesterfield courthouse as ICE enters fourth day of detainments”Radio IQ (Brad Kutner, 6.25.25): "Local residents protest ICE at Chesterfield County courthouse”Virginia Scope (Brandon Jarvis, 6.24.25): “Chesterfield becomes focal point in Virginia Immigration enforcement debate”No posts