Pa. Supreme Court establishes Twitter feed

When the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reconvened in Old City Hall in Philadelphia’s historic district in mid September, the first time it met there since 1802, it was like the justices took a step back in time.

Now, one month later, it could be said that the highest court in the commonwealth is taking a giant leap into the 21^st Century.

The high court announced on Tuesday that it has established a Twitter feed in order to increase online ease and access to its rulings.

In a news release by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said that the Twitter feed will provide instant notification of the online posting of most court information, including judicial orders and opinions, new rulings, and concurring and dissenting statements by the justices.

“The manner and pace in which the Commonwealth’s citizens expect to receive information from their government is changing rapidly,” Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin, who spearheaded the move to create a court Twitter feed, said in the press announcement. “This is a logical extension of an ongoing commitment to enhance the delivery of court information and services in an efficient and cost-effective manner.”

The news release states that all new rulings posted to the Pennsylvania judiciary’s website will be linked to a Tweet, and immediately available on a Twitter follower’s personal homepage.

The service will not, however, be set up to allow direct communication with the Court, as some Twitter accounts are able to do.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s feed can be accessed at:  http://twitter.com/Supreme CtofPA.