Panel: Judges, Attorneys |Can’t Be Facebook Friends

MIAMI (CN) - Judges and lawyers in Florida can't be friends on Facebook, the state's Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee decided. The committee said it fears the appearance of a conflict of interest because it "reasonably conveys to others the impression that these lawyer 'friends' are in a special position to influence the judge."

"While judges cannot isolate themselves entirely from the real world and cannot be expected to avoid all friendships outside of their judicial responsibilities, some restrictions upon a judge's conduct are inherent in the office," the committee said.

Last month's decision is merely advisory, the committee stated, and lacks the weight of a state Supreme Court opinion.

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