A state court has overturned a previous ruling that would have allowed people to carry guns into courthouses.

The overturned decision, by Warren County Judge Robert Wolfe, said a Jefferson County ordinance allowing metal detectors to be placed in the courthouse doorway to conduct weapons searches conflicted with state law.

That's because state law already says "no county [may] regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms."

The ruling suggested that guns still could not be carried into the courtroom judge's chambers, and "adjoining corridors," but could be legally carried into, say, the tax assessor's office.

The Commonwealth Court's decision was unanimous, saying that the entire courthouse in question constitutes an "adjoining corridor," meaning that the county ordinance doesn't regulate the "lawful" possession of firearms, but instead relates to unlawful transport into a court facility.

The attorney representing the men who challenged the law said he plans to appeal.