Washington - For the first time, bloggers have been given press credentials by a U.S. federal court, and will be present in the courtroom to cover the trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

After over a year of negotiations, the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. agreed to provide two press credentials to the Media Bloggers Association (MBA), which counts about 1,000 members.

"Bloggers can bring a depth of reporting that some traditional media organizations aren't able to achieve because of space and time limitations," Sheldon Snook, an administrative assistant to Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan, told The Post.

The MBA will rotate several of its members, including group president Robert Cox (WordsInEdgewise), freelance writer James Joyner (OutsideTheBeltway.com), and documentary filmmaker and journalist Rory O'Connor (RoryOConnor.org/blog) to cover the trial of Libby, who faces charges related to the leak of a CIA operative's name to the press.

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/y56jj2 (Washington Post)
http://www.mediabloggers.org