Delaware County Circuit Court judges release new 'social networking policy'

September 10, 2011

Delaware County, Indiana: Delaware County's five Circuit Court judges have unveiled a new 'social networking policy' banning or restricting social media and internet use by court employees not only in the workplace, but after hours and even after an employee has left the court's employ.

The policy bans employees from accessing the internet during work hours; this includes texting and answering non-work-related emails, even from personal devices such as blackberries. Court employees are prohibited from discussing court related matters on social networking sites at any time, this includes any information obtained during the course of regular work. Employees are also prohibited from making any comments about other court employees in public forums that "are negative ... or might be perceived as negative." Lastly, after leaving court employment, former employees must still "uphold the independence, integrity and impartiality" of the courts and "should not reveal to third parties any observations made as a (court) employee." Violations of the policy will result in a verbal warning, followed by a written warning, and possibly eventual termination.

This policy has come under some scrutiny from an anonymous source, self-identified as a government employee. The source has sent faxes to the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications, which indicates their concern that the policy over-reaches too much into the court employee's private life. It is unclear at this time if either of the parties who received the message will choose to investigate further.