Court proceedings to be streamed live

The courtroom, which usually does not allow reporters to use even computers, will now welcome laptops, iPads and smartphones, and will encourage live blogging, Tweeting and Facebooking.Its all part of an experiment. Court officials around the country hope it will help establish suggested guidelines for courts as they grapple with how to use digital technology and how to accommodate citizen journalists and bloggers. The courtroom will unusually welcome bloggers and citizen journalists with a special seating section and Wi-Fi connection.Supporters hope making the everyday workings of the court available online will promote a better understanding of the judicial system. The goal is to come up with the best practices of how to use digital technology to bring the courts closer to the public.