Social Media and Court Communication

Abstract

Courts have traditionally relied on the delivery of judicial decisions as their sole means of direct communication with the general public. Over time this reliance is shifting, including through the willingness of courts to have their proceedings televised. Courts have also sought to have greater influence on how others communicate about and report their decisions, such as by employing public information officers to prepare press releases on court activities and liaise with the media. Most recently, judges and courts have taken their engagement with the public one step further by experimenting with the use of social media. Social media such as Twitter or Facebook provide a new means by whi..