The Young Texas Lawyer

We have discussed social networking in many forms here at YTL, and Above the Law has a fantastic article about social networking horror stories. Below are some excerpts and we recommend you read the full article. You generally should not say anything on these sites that you wouldn’t scream in public, but you should also protect yourself by limiting the friends you accept and making sure your privacy controls are rock solid. Also, make sure your friends know what profession you are in and that they are discrete in the pictures they upload of you and statements they make on your wall. All of this is easier said than done but, if you are going to use these types of sites then you don’t really have a choice. Also, never forget Rule #1: don’t be dumb.

• Don’t go on your blog and call your judge an “Evil, Unfair Witch.” Florida attorney Sean Conway wrote about a post about Judge Cheryl Aleman over at JAABBlog, and the First Amendment did not come to his rescue. He was reprimanded by the Florida bar and fined.

• Don’t blog about the details of your cases and clients, and refer to the robed one as “Judge Clueless.” Illinois assistant public defender Kristine A. Peshek used her blog, “The Bardd [sic] Before the Bar – Irreverant [sic] Adventures in Life, Law, and Indigent Defense,” as an outlet for 19 years of pent up resentment (excerpts here). It brought more release than she intended. When it was discovered, she was fired.

• If you’re on a jury, don’t blog about it. It can get you suspended from practicing and fired AND fined $14,000, like Frank Wilson of California.

• Don’t ask the judge to suspend your trial for a funeral, if you’re actually planning on partying all week. Especially if the judge is your Facebook friend and gets your partying status updates.Texas Judge Susan Criss will tattle on you to the American Bar Association, though she will leave your name out of it.