Tweeting live updates from court has been given permission as of immediate effect after a ruling from the Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales.
Live text-based communication of reporting the case will be allowed as long as the judge believes it will not interfere with the administration of justice.
The guidance covers the use of mobile, e-mail and social media such as Twitter, and internet-enabled laptops.
It follows the prompted journalists who used Twitter at the bail hearing of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
PERMISSION GRANTED
The most senior judge in England and Wales Lord Justice Judge’s ruling said: “The use of an unobtrusive, hand-held, virtually silent piece of modern equipment for the purposes of simultaneous reporting of proceedings to the outside world as they unfold in court is unlikely to interfere with the proper administration of justice.”
He made clear that permission would not be given if it in any way might influence witnesses or interfere with the legal process.
CURRENT LAW
Presently, recording sound or images during a court hearing is illegal, but sending text messages has not been.
Use of Twitter in court had been a hot topic because it is publicly broadcasting to readers.
Last week, at the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court hearing on Mr Assange’s bail application, journalists asked the judge whether they could tweet.
District Judge Howard Riddle said he had no objection and several reporters then proceeded to give regular updates as the hearing unfolded.
However, later in the week at the High Court, Mr Justice Ouseley said Twitter could not be used.
REPORTING FUTURE?
The question is will software video camera be next?
Sky News has been campaigning for video access to courtrooms, for the judiciary to allow the introduction of modern communications methods to make the courts more accessible to the public.
For more news and information, visit www.videotile.co.uk, the video production company.