A new publication by the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC) outlines guidelines for the use of social media by federal judges in Canada. The Guidelines discuss:

• General principles of social media use
• The review of social media accounts upon appointment
• Self-identification on social media accounts
• Creating and interacting with social media accounts
• Connections through social media
• Privacy and security, and
• Training and education

The Guidelines examine the benefits and risks of social media use by federally appointed judges, and aim to provide information on how federally appointed judges can safely use social media. According to a CJC press release, benefits of social media use include: the chance 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.”

Guidelines on the Use of Social Media by Federally Appointed Judges / Guide sur l’utilisation des médias sociaux par les juges de nomination fédérale is available online here: https://cjc-ccm.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2024/Guidelines%20on%20the%20Use%20of%20Social%20Media_bil_Final.pdf.