Judges who use Twitter say it is a good social networking site, which allows users to speak freely and openly and is replacing newspapers. It also helps judges connect with people and dispel stereotypes, which TV soaps incorrectly spread about them. Twitter has become a forum where young judges meet and discuss issues such as justice and truth and search for alternative verdicts. They connect with members of the media and publicize their literary activities, according to a report in Al-Watan Arabic daily. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Qasim, Al-Ahsa Court judge, said: “Some soap dramas negatively depict judges in a way that doesn't reflect the reality. It's important that judges represent themselves on Twitter and act without any pretension, so people can interact with them and get closer to know them better.” Twitter helps us get in touch with our colleagues, judges and lawyers, across the Kingdom, Sheikh Al-Qasim added. He also said that although the work of a judge requires him to solve disputes and be strict, judges have other personality aspects that don't appear when they are at court. “There are judges who are jurists, literary writers, intellectuals, Dawah activists and so on, and their (Twitter) pages reflect their interests,” he said. Abdul Aziz Muhammad Al-Do'aiji, a Khamis Mushayt Court judge, considers Twitter a great blessing from Allah. “Today, we live in a global village, thanks to Twitter. We can exchange information and put up our written works and allow others to see them. That's why I decided to use Twitter.” Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamad Al-Razeen believes that what distinguishes Twitter from other sites is that it makes you read the news online instead of buying a newspaper. “I joined this website to get in touch with people and speak freely away from workplace. People can get in touch with us directly.”
