Social media friends without privileges

You can "check in" to the High Court of Australia and receive daily microblog updates from the Victorian Supreme and County Courts via Twitter. During a recent interview with ABC Radio National, District Court judge Judith Gibson was asked if judges should be allowed to use social media. She replied: "You can't have judges being like vestal virgins in an ivory tower ... because an essential part of being a judge is the reflection of community values."

It is clear judges need to be across social media, as it appears in evidence and in various causes of action for online offences. But does the use of social media by judges undermine their position as revered members of society, and will that in turn impact on the integrity of the legal system?