Ethics Committee Orders Judges, Lawyers to “Unfriend” on Facebook
Florida’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee has ordered all judges and lawyers in the state to “unfriend” each other on the popular social networking website Facebook to avoid future compromise.
The ruling, which came out on November 17, stated that online friendships among judges and lawyers could create an impression that they are being influenced with their decisions.
The committee has also pointed that it is not singling out Facebook with the ruling, pointing that it is applicable to all social networking websites.
“Although Facebook has been the number example in the opinion of the committee, the ruling applies to any social networking site that requires members to approve their friends’ list or make any contact with a particular member using the website,” the committee said.
At least one Florida judge has warned her friends through her status update in Facebook, saying that she hade already removed lawyers on her list. The judge has also advised other judges to do the same.
Meanwhile, the committee has no final say on whether other judges can post comments on their colleagues’ websites during judicial elections or can judges be allowed to have “fans,” which include lawyers during the event.
Florida Supreme Court Spokesperson Craig Waters said that the High Court has the final say on the issue, adding that they can issue a mandate on the ruling. But he stressed that most of the judges will most likely to follow the decision to caution themselves from the preying eye of the public.
Meanwhile, Pinellas County Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Thomas McGrady said that he clearly understood the decision of the committee, saying that judges should always appear impartial.
The judge also said the being friends with lawyers could potentially bring conflict of interests, saying that it is the main reason why he doesn’t have a Facebook page.
He said that he has already sent a copy of the ruling to some 69 judges under his circuit.
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