The lord chief justice today told media and members of the public they can ‘tweet as much as they please’ in court as he clarified the use of text-based communication.

Lord Judge said the use of laptops and hand-held devices was an important part of open justice and that he did not object to people using Twitter to update on cases. In his guidance he said members of the media will no longer have to make an application to the judge to request permission to use electronic devices.

But members of the public should make a formal or informal application if they wish to use mobile devices. The guidance, which replaces interim advice issued a year ago, states the judge retains ‘full discretion’ to prohibit live, text-based communications from court, in the interests of justice.

Lord Judge did make it clear he was aware of the danger of Twitter in the administration of justice, particularly where witnesses who are out of court may be coached or briefed before they give evidence.

He said: ‘It may be necessary for the judge to limit live, text-based communications to representatives of the media for journalistic purposes but to disallow its use by the wider public in court.’ But he added that unobtrusive, silent devices are ‘generally unlikely’ to interfere with the proper administration of justice.