New Press Guidance to Promote Open Justice in Courts

Full court lists should be available to the media on request and journalists do not have to apply for permission to tweet or text from court, according to new guidance aiming to promote open justice in the courts. Tweeting in court was sanctioned in 2011 but the new HM Court and Tribunal Service guidance published yesterday clarifies the regime and makes clear that the press do not need prior permission to use ‘text-based devices to communicate from court’ including using Twitter and social media, texting and emailing and using internet-enabled laptops.

The new handbook, which was developed by a working group including the media, stressed that the media were ‘entitled by law to hear and be present’ at all open court proceedings including those with reporting restrictions in place. Journalists should not be ‘forced to cover the trial from the public gallery – individual reporters may be at risk of intimidation from friends or relatives to parties in the case’, it added. You can read the guidance here.

Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors welcomed what it described as ‘an important initiative’. ‘If the public is to have faith in the justice system it must see it in action and that means ensuring journalists have access to courts and the necessary information to do their jobs. At the same time court staff need to have simple guidelines as to what is permissible,’ he said. ‘There is more to do but the work carried out so far is extremely important.’

Read more: Jon Robins, ‘The Justice Gap’, https://is.gd/PmBIrR