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the dignity or decorum of the courtroom or courthouse .” 8 No matter the technology , judges retain control at all times and can impose restrictions whenever necessary . The use of Twitter in Pennsylvania , Connecticut , and Maryland courts also demonstrate that the news media can use technology in a reasonable manner to gather news and report on proceedings . 9
III . FEDERAL COURT REVIEW
Broadcasting bans include the use of Twitter as a means of information delivery in many Federal courts . 10 United States v . Shelnutt 11 is a case that involved a Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reporter who requested that he use a handheld electronic device to send tweets via his newspaper ’ s Twitter page . Federal District Court Judge Clay Land denied his request , citing Rule 53 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure . 12 Rule 53 states , in relevant part , “[ T ] he court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom .” 13 Judge Land concluded that the drafters of this rule intended to extend its reach beyond the transmission of trial proceedings through television and radio . 14 Thus , Twitter use was considered broadcasting and therefore prohibited .
8 Winnick , supra , at 345 . 9 Id . at 346 .
10 Validity , Propriety , and Effect of Allowing or Prohibiting Media ' s Broadcasting , Recording , or Photographing Court Proceedings , 14 A . L . R . 4th 121 , § 3 ( 2009 ).
11 U . S . v . Shelnutt , 2009 U . S . Dist . LEXIS 101427 , at * 1 ( M . D . Ga ., Nov . 2 , 2009 ).
12 Fed . R . Crim . at 53 .
13 Id . 14 Cervantes , supra , at 142 .
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