Florida Courts System launches social media to serve judicial branch mission

Not a decade too soon, Florida’s State Courts System is entering the social media age.
To serve the courts’ larger mission and fulfill the Court Communication Plan for the Judicial Branch of Florida, the Office of State Courts Administrator has launched social media to reach out to the citizens of the state, provide essential news and offer information about the work of the judicial branch. The effort will provide information about OSCA, the administrative arm of the State Courts System, as well as highlight the work and social media of other courts around the state.
“This is the right time to expand into social media,” said State Courts Administrator PK Jameson. “Courts are not early adopters. We do put to use proven methods to help the administration of justice and now is the right time to reach out with these incredible tools.”
From news released on Twitter to videos featuring compelling stories on Facebook, from job postings and court education information on LinkedIn to photos of historic courthouses on Instagram, the social media accounts will provide content about the work of the Office of State Courts Administrator as well as district and circuit courts around Florida. Those courts are increasingly using social media themselves. The Florida Supreme Court has for more than seven years effectively used social media to announce opinion releases and has itself expanded into other social media.
Judges and court personnel have a special responsibility to maintain their impartiality. The social media initiative will respect that duty and adhere to the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct.
“Courts as an institution and the people who work in them are deliberative by nature. We don’t rush into anything and there is a purpose to what we do,” Jameson said. “It is important for the courts to communicate about the great work being done for the people of Florida, recognize the successes of our judicial branch and make sure we’re providing information that furthers our mission.”
Florida’s State Courts System is now on
Twitter at @Florida_Courts
Facebook at Florida Courts
LinkedIn at Florida Office of State Courts Administrator
Instagram at FloridaCourts