The role of social media in judicial elections
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One of the unique features of Washington's 2010 judicial elections will be the role of social media in helping candidates get out their message. Three state Supreme Court justices are up for reelection – Madsen, Sanders, and Jim Johnson – and already candidates are employing social media in ways never before used in Washington Supreme Court elections. Justice Jim Johnson announced his reelection bid on his Facebook page and attracted dozens of fans within a few hours. Justice Sanders also has a Facebook page which announces campaign events. Attorney Charlie Wiggins, who is challenging Sanders, is on both Facebook and Twitter.
Last November the Washington Ethics Advisory Committee issued an opinion that stated judicial blogging is permitted under the Code of Judicial Conduct, provided the judge can do so in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. Presumably the same guidance would apply to newer forms of social marketing as well.
This trend is not unique to Washington. Attorney and blogger Don Cruse (@doncruse) covers the state Supreme Court in Texas, where voters just completed a primary for open Supreme Court seats. Don created a feed of the Twitter accounts of each candidate -- a fascinating stream-of-consciousness resource for voters.
LexBlog CEO Kevin O’Keefe is the Aristotle of legal bloggers – he spends his time wandering around the country training lawyers how to blog. (Read, for example, his blog post “Focus on the possibilities of blogging and social media, not the challenges.”) The legal profession is embracing the potential of social media, so it's logical that the judiciary would eventually follow.
Judicial candidates are no longer speaking through intermediaries like campaign literature or editorial boards. They’re appealing directly to the members of the public who will vote for them. What impact will social media have in these races? Is this a good development?
What do you think?
At first this might be a more "personal" approach (compared to having someone generate a campaign leaflet), but as the practice becomes more widespread and social media becomes more core to campaining in general it will be more frequently handled by campaign staff and consultants.
However, during its beginnings now, I think we have lots of things to look forward to!
Imagine the number of candid remarks that will be made by candidates who normally have others create/vette their campaign statements!
Imagine all the really lame-o tricks and techniques put into place by people who are barely conversant on things like Facebook and Twitter!
The opportunities for snafus and fubars is near limitless!
I agree with the last post, that it could be entertaining to see what transpires on the local and state level of politicians use of social media. But it's truly a transperent world now! :-)
I think it's great to see state and local officials running for offices utilize the various mediums of social media. Never before have you had a chance to reach supporters direct, where they are at and the viral nature of the web and social media is good for spreading your agenda.
Are many using video as well? That would be the most ideal use of social media in politics. Nothing brands and connects better then video. In a study for the effectiveness of presenting materials to juries, this report I quote below reveals oral and visual retains the best, of which video does it all.
"McGraw-Hill published a well known and universally accepted study regarding information retention, which affirmed what most trial practitioners already knew: "Seeing is believing." Simplifying complex information and evidence through animation for a jury can be very effective and convincing. A 1992 study, known as the Weiss-McGrath report found "a one-hundred percent increase in juror retention of visual over oral presentations and a six-hundred percent increase in juror retention of combined visual and oral presentations over oral presentations alone." (Source: Weiss-McGrath report, 1992).
And don't forget, many have attributed Obama's success at getting elected as President to his use and understanding of reaching the public through social media! :-)
Well written article...do you have any follow up posts?
Ed