In most cases this was a mobile phone or other electronic communication device. (educationbusinessuk.net)
The use of electronic communication devices in silent or vibrate mode is permitted, except as follows: (slaw.ca)
There should be a presumptive allowance: the public should be able to use electronic communication devices in the courtroom and tweet freely, unless there is good reason to believe that such behaviour will unduly compromise the privacy of courtroom participants or disrupt court proceedings. (slaw.ca)