The most popular social networking site has found itself in news again. According to a ruling from Florida Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, the judges should not friend lawyers on Facebook. By being friends on Facebook could give the impression that lawyers have some influence over the judge friends and this was cited as the reason for the ruling.

At least one South Florida judge warned her pals with a Facebook status update that they could be “unfriended,” and the ruling has prompted others to do the same. The committee ruled Nov. 17 that online “friendships” could create the impression that lawyers are in a special position to influence their judge friends.

The ruling didn’t single out ‘Facebook’ and allows a judge to post comments on another judge’s site and is also allowed to have lawyers as fans during judicial elections.

“Although Facebook has been used as an example in this opinion, the holding of the opinion would apply to any social networking site which requires the member of the site to approve the listing of a ‘friend’ or contact on the member’s site,” the opinion said.

Though the ruling has not been appreciated bu some there are a few who understand why this was necessary.

Judge Thomas McGrady, the chief of the sixth judicial circuit in Pinellas County said, ”We as judges can still be good judges and still have friends. Part of our job is to not let that friendship interfere in any way with our decisions.”

“But others in the public who see judges listing a lawyer as a friend on facebook, they may think that because they are your friend, they will be treated differently.” He continued.

News Source: Yahoo! News

Image Source: Prelaw Advisement