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Journalists are now allowed to fire off live text-based communications, such as mobile email, social media (including Twitter), and Internet enabled laptops in and from courts throughout England and Wales without asking for permission, a U.K. judge ruled. Prior to the ruling, reporters would have to issue a request, but that rule has now been removed.
"The normal, indeed almost invariable, rule has been that mobile phones must be turned off in court," the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales wrote in a new guidance (PDF) issued today. "There is however no statutory prohibition on the use of live text-based communications in open court."
Judges still have the power to limit live text-based communications if they think it will pose any kind of problem for the trial, but it's not something they really anticipate.
"It is presumed that a representative of the media or a legal commentator using live, text-based communications from court does not pose a danger of interference to the proper administration of justice in the individual case," the guidance continues. "This is because the most obvious purpose of permitting the use of live, text-based communications would be to enable the media to produce fair and accurate reports of the proceedings. As such, a representative of the media or a legal commentator who wishes to use live, text-based communications from court may do so without making an application to the court."
Non-reporters must still ask permission like before. Furthermore, if the number of electronic devices becomes a distraction or interferes with the court's own sound recording equipment, a judge may limit their use.
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