Canadian Judicial Council on Judges' Use of Social Media

Earlier this month, the Canadian Judicial Council issued Guidelines on the Use of Social Media by Federally Appointed Judges.

From the press release:

"The purpose of the Guidelines is to provide additional guidance about the safe and appropriate use of social media by judges. The Guidelines acknowledge that while there are risks associated with the use of social media by judges, there are also potential benefits such as opportunities to: connect with the broader judicial community; facilitate public education about the judicial role and the legal system; maintain personal connections with friends and family, which is an important component of judicial wellness; and educate judges on a technology that may arise in cases before them. The Guidelines also recognize that improper use of social media can undermine public confidence in the judiciary as well as the principles that define the judicial role, namely: independence, integrity, respect, diligence, competence, equality, and impartiality."

The CJC's  role is to ensure the proper conduct of federally appointed judges and to improve the quality of judicial services, court management and technology. It is chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.