MORE IMPORTANT RULE CHANGES FROM THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT ON E-MAIL SERVICE--PLUS A SPELLING LESSON

Today, the Supreme Court amended Rule 2.516 regarding e-mail service in several important respects. Here’s a summary of the rule changes:

• Parties can stipulate to methods of service other than email.
• The “Designation of email address(es)” need NOT be a separate pleading; rather an attorney must designate his or her e-mail addresses upon appearing in a proceeding.

And the spelling lesson? The only proposed change the Court rejected was to spell e-mail without the hyphen. E-mail is to be spelled WITH the hyphen, not without.

ABA approves judge use of social media.

On February 21, 2013, the American Bar Association issued Formal Opinion 462, entitled "Judge's Use of Electronic Social Networking Media." Unlike Florida, see Florida Sup. Ct. Jud. Eth. Adv. Comm. Op. 2009-20 (2009) (judge many not include lawyers who may appear before judge in social network or permit such lawyers to add judge to their social network circle), the ABA takes a more balanced approach:

Judicious use of ESM [electronic social media] can benefit judges in both their personal and professional lives. As their use of this technology increases, judges can take advantage of its utility and potential as a valuable tool for public outreach. When used with proper care, judges' use of ESM does not necessarily compromise their duties under the Model Code any more than use of traditional and less public forms of social connection us as U.S. Mail, telephone, email or texting.

Formal Op. 462 at 4.