by Traverse Legal, reviewed by Enrico Schaefer - May 4, 2009 - Duty To The Profession, I Quit!, Information Super-Overload
A hardy thank you to Robert J. Ambrogi over at Robert Ambrogi’s LawSites for posting the following article on Facebook titled “Judge Shuts Down NewWest.Net Twitter Feed from Yellowstone Club Trial” by Courtney Lowery. Federal Bankruptcy Judge Ralph B. Kircher shut down the use of Twitter in his courtroom.
Jonathan wrote on Twitter: “Issue: later witnesses are not allowed to hear earlier witnesses. Judge calls recess to allow lawyers to tell witnesses: stay off Twitter!”
A short while later, Jonathan wrote: “The last #YCtrial tweet: Judge has ruled no Twittering of the trial. I am disappointed but that is the ruling.”
Here are some of the latest feeds below:
There is little doubt that technology continues to press the edges of the first amendment right to free speech and access to the courts. Many judges will seek to shut down these technologies, including Twitter, in order to reduce the chance of juror bias (jurors aren’t supposed to receive any information concerning trials on which they sit except through the evidence that comes in through the judge). It seems to me like shutting down live Twitter feeds is like putting your finger on a leak at the Hoover Dam. Our time would better be served trying to figure out new ways of enforcing the jury instructions which tell jurors they are not to do any Google or other research concerning a case during trial, rather than precluding the rest of the world from knowing what’s going on.
As a founding partner of Traverse Legal, PLC, he has more than thirty years of experience as an attorney for both established companies and emerging start-ups. His extensive experience includes navigating technology law matters and complex litigation throughout the United States.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Enrico Schaefer, who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing Business, IP, and Technology Law litigation attorney.
