The Citizen Media Law Project has published a guide to using Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks and live-blogging tools in the courtroom. Many states have rules forbidding the use of cell phones and laptops in court, and even in the absence of such laws, some judges just can’t stand the idea of it. I was on a jury for a criminal trial in September, and the judge was firm on “No Twitter or Facebook in the courtroom” and actually, not when we returned home, either, until the trial ended.

An ‘additional tip’ in the guide reads:

Give the judge or PIO a good reason to approve your request. Successful requests for permission have generally focused on:

1. The nature and public benefit of blogging or tweeting;

2. The public interest in the case;

3. The reporter’s professional experience or credentials; and

4. An explanation of how the technology works.

-AH