In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about social media use in the court room, new stats on Twitter, and how company holiday parties can be dangerous to online reputations.

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Ohio Supreme Court Panel Issues Social Media Recommendations for Judges

Following the lead of other states, a special Supreme Court Panel in Ohio has issued a report offering recommendation for how judges and justices should approach social media websites. The report is less strict than some and says that “friending” lawyers and other individuals who may appear in court is acceptable as those relationships “don’t suggest a close connection in real life.” If an online relationship causes bias, however, the judge must step down from the case.

Jurors’ Social Media Use Throwing Trials Off Track

If judges are being given social media guidelines, perhaps jurors should receive them too. This Reuters report, republished at MSNBC, discusses how social networking use among jurors has caused headaches for prosecutors and judges throughout the country. The article cites a couple of examples of how social media use is setting back trials: “A Florida appellate court in September overturned the manslaughter conviction of a man charged with killing his neighbor, citing the jury foreman’s use of an iPhone to look up the definition of ‘prudent’ in an online dictionary. In June, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals granted a new trial to a sheriff’s deputy convicted of corruption, after finding that a juror had contacted the defendant through MySpace.”

Some legal experts suggest that rather than removing access to social media tools, courts should focus on helping users find information online constructively.

“Who’s Hotter” Site Goes Viral at Boston University

Inspired by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s early social networking attempts, a Boston University student has created a website called RateBU.com, in which students log-on to the site and rate two images of female students presented side-by-side. The images are pulled from photos on Facebook. There has already been some backlash against the site, for being disrespectful to women and for possible privacy concerns. However, the site founder has already covered himself by explaining that the content on the site comes from publicly shared Facebook photos.

Social Media Helps Embarrassing Corporate Christmas Parties Live On in Cyberspace

With the right mix of alcohol and holiday spirits, end-of-the-year company parties can provide embarrassing fodder for employees. The  gossip becomes even more severe when the party spreads online. This article in the Miami Herald discusses the role that social media plays in disseminating evidence of real-life misbehavior, as well as the steps employees should take to make sure they don’t live on in Internet infamy.

Eight Percent of Americans Use Twitter

A new Pew report suggests that eight percent of Americans who go online use Twitter. Of those who use the website, 24% tweet multiple times per day and 72% tweet about their personal lives or interest. Adults aged 18-29 are twice as likely to use Twitter as older adults.