Public To Be Banned From Texting Or Tweeting From Court
Members of the public will no longer be allowed to text or tweet about a trial from the courtroom.
The Chief Justice has announced new guidelines in relation to social media use in the public gallery while a trial is in session.
Only members of the press and lawyers will be allowed to publish what’s happening online.
Jurors are always warned to avoid looking up anything about a case, especially on social media channels in case they’re prejudiced in any way.
The courts can’t police everything that’s being published online, but recent high-profile cases have highlighted the need to address the issue.
An accused person is entitled to a fair trial and court reporters must abide by certain strict rules to ensure that right is protected throughout.
Today, Chief Justice Frank Clarke announced a ban on members of the public using their electronic devices in court to discuss or report on what they’re seeing and hearing.
He said: "Any digital, text based, mass communication from a courtroom is to be entrusted to the hands of those who sign up to ethical means of communication, to principles and codes of conduct: to those who know what can be said and when.
"The direction entrusts this task to bona fide journalists as the eyes and ears of the public."
The Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan welcomed the news, saying: "It is essential that we protect it and ensure the integrity of the trial process.
"[Today's announcement] will help ensure only those fully aware of the limits of what they can report and when will report live from a court room."