To Post or Not to Post: Judges on Social Media

Many articles highlight the need for judges to be careful using social media, and cases of inappropriate use by judges are well reported. Social media in and of itself is not problematic. It is only when judges use it inappropriately that it becomes an issue. Like any other tool, proper use of social media can be an effective means for judges to communicate to the public what they do and their involvement in the community. This article discusses what social media is, provides guidance for judges relating to its use, acknowledges the challenges while highlighting the benefits to judges of effective social media use, and concludes with a few recommendations.