The judge hearing the bail application of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange made legal history this week by letting reporters use Twitter to update the outside world.

Senior district judge Howard Riddle agreed just before the hearing that reporters could send tweets as long as they did not disturb the court.

There is currently no central rule which bans the use of mobile phones in court. However in practice the courts in England and Wales disapprove of journalists using electronic devices during proceedings.

Last month the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge openly discussed whether restrictions should be lifted.

He argued that if journalists file stories via email from a laptop in court, then Twitter is a similar use of text-based transmission. The judiciary has revealed his questions are “under active consideration”.

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