I was one of the reporters covering Trump's federal arraignment. We left our computers and cell phones behind during the unprecedented news event.

• I was in the courthouse when Trump was arraigned Tuesday.
• Some reporters were granted access to the courtroom through a lottery system. 
• No cell phones or laptops were allowed in the courthouse, leaving us to rely on an old-school journalism approach of pay phones and notepads. 

MIAMI — "We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty." 

I jotted the quote into my notebook, making sure I caught every word so that I could quickly pull my eyes back to the action.

The words, coming from former President Donald Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, on Tuesday, had been expected, but I scrutinized every move inside that courtroom and transcribed as much as I could. Blanche had leaned down slightly, his hands on the defense table. Trump himself appeared somber, sometimes crossing his arms.

Here I was, reporting what happened inside a room that only about 100 people would witness. A former US president was being federally charged for the first time in history.

Journalists with the closest access to the Trump arraignment were inside the courtroom, within feet of the former president. Those 26 journalists were picked at random — from a lottery of business cards dropped off with the clerk hours just earlier. All hoped they would get picked to be inside the room to dissect facial expressions, crane their necks at any whispering, and detect nuances in tone.

At one point, the clerk did call my name. Another 17 would be let into the courtroom, she said. My name was among the last few called. As we waited outside the elevator, the clerk called us back, saying there had been a "miscommunication" and that only five more reporters could enter the courtroom. I wouldn't get in after all. 

Instead, I was in a jury holding room eight floors down with more than 50 other journalists, all of us huddled around four television screens, squinting at times to watch the court proceedings.

It was still more than most of the public would get to see. 

The circumstances of the day were unusual, which is probably to be expected for such an unprecedented event in US history. Court rules can vary some, but typically, when reporters receive access to federal court they're allowed to bring along their cell phones and laptops.

This time, no such devices were allowed, and the court proceedings were not broadcast outside the courtroom to the public, so we had to write down everything on paper. The camera panned to each speaker — US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman, Blanche, and prosecutor David Harbach.

Trump's personal aide, Waltine Nauta, who was also being indicted, stared down at the table for much of the back and forth. At one point, I did see Blanche whisper something to Trump, and he chuckled. 

The day began early

Trump arrived on time for his court appearance — early even — and journalists had waited inside the federal courthouse in downtown Miami since 8:30 a.m., for about seven hours. 

Nine Trump supporters had parked themselves outside the courthouse all night, and all of them would eventually be granted access to the courtroom. 

Reporters waiting to cover the arraignment could also see outside the room where they were holding us, where a small number of Trump supporters had gathered to wave flags. Every Trump rally has colorful characters. I'd spotted a stake through a pig's head on my way in, and an anti-Trump demonstrator dressed up in a prison costume, dragging a fake ball and chain.

Overall, however, the day appeared far more calm, and the crowds much smaller, than many had predicted. The City of Miami said it was prepared to handle crowds as large as 50,000, but I would estimate under 1,000 gathered throughout the day.

At one point, I peeked through the blinds and spotted two dozen police officers who were carrying helmets leaving the building and fanning out onto the area. 

Every once in a while, the US Marshall would take our questions. Around 11 a.m., the marshall told us what to expect: Trump would be booked but wouldn't take a mugshot. He would get fingerprinted digitally. 

After that, word go out that reporters could access a phone booth on the other side of the room — but that it would only place local calls. We lined up quickly.

My editors are based all over the US, so I sat down with a phone book for a while to see if I could find any of my Miamian friends in there and arrange a three-way call. I struck out. 

Another reporter recommended I try phones on other floors. I was able to call out on the 12th floor, which did make calls outside the area, and spoke with my editor about the latest developments. 

Trump himself would be in a courtroom on the 13th floor. I was surprised by this — many apartment buildings in Miami skip the 13th floor for superstitious reasons. 

"Make yourselves comfortable," the judge said after he sat down in his chair. The time in the courtroom would span 40 minutes, with Trump under new orders not to discuss the case with witnesses.