Legal Research

"'New Media' and the Courts"

This post was written by Chuck Kallendorf: "Results from a first-of-its-kind nationwide survey on "new media" and the courts made public late last month suggest that "state judges and court staff recognize the potential impact of social media on the administration of justice and are taking a close look at both the ramifications and opportunities."

The survey findings were part of a year-long national collaborative research project conducted by the Conference of Court Public Information Officers, an organization of more than 100 communications professionals working in state and federal courts in the United States and worldwide, which for the first time measured the impact of new media on the courts, and identified the cautious approach courts have taken toward new media because of the effects on ethics, court proceedings and the ability of these new communication tools to support public understanding of the courts.

Their press release stated that "While only a fraction of courts around the country have established their own social networking sites, almost all the respondents agreed that judges and court employees needed to be educated about the so-called ?'new media'---from Facebook and Twitter to smart phones---and learn how their use might one day impact day to day operations in their courthouses..."

For further discussion and the Ohio slant, click on the author's name above.

Source: Hamilton County Law Library Blog, 21 September 2010. Reproduced with permission.

Full post as published by Stark County Law Library Blawg on September 22, 2010 (boomark / email).