Westmoreland County judges ban Twitter, texting in courtrooms

March 20, 7:32 PMPittsburgh Social Media ExaminerMia Aquino

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Judges in Westmoreland County have decided to ban Twitter, text messaging, and all other electronic communication from courtrooms, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

The county's 11 judges, based in Greensburg, said that Rule 112 of the state's criminal court procedures specifically bans electronic transmissions. It prohibits "the transmission of communications by telephone, radio, television, or advanced communication technology from the hearing room or the courtroom."

Twitter is a social networking and microblogging website in which users read or send up to 140-character messages known as "tweets." Users are able to send tweets through a computer or cell phone.

Westmoreland President Judge John Blahovec said all that will now disappear in the county's courts.

However, tweeting has been allowed in other Pennsylvania courtrooms.

In January, a Dauplin County judge refused to ban tweeting in the "Bonusgate" political corruption case against former state Rep. Mike Veon and three of his aides.