Google rules the bench

CNet reports that search engines are becoming increasingly utilized in evidentiary rulings of the courts. They contributed to Manuel Rodriguez's exoneration in federal court when Judge Frank Maas ruled in his favor based partly on, "looking up jurors' names in Google, had revealed that the assistant district attorney had 'improperly' removed Hispanics."

The decision came too late to benefit Manuel but illustrates a growing trend in the courts to use the internet in their considerations. Many legal pundits and even fellow jurists are not pleased.

In the United States and abroad, judges are turning to search engines such as Google to check facts, to look up information about companies embroiled in litigation, and to challenge statistics presented by attorneys in court. Dozens of judges have penned opinions describing Google as a valuable--and sometimes crucial--source of knowledge.

Although other engines have been cited in case law, google is the cybersearcher of choice. However, not to be outdone, Yahoo has taken number one slot in another arena of public opinion - CNN while Dogpile remains the esoteric choice.