Author:   aleonard@nyls.edu (Arthur Leonard - Faculty) at Internet

Date:     3/13

Priority: Normal

BCC:      citation at AO-OCPPO

TO:       citation@ao.uscourts.gov at ~Internet

Subject:  Comment on ABA Citation Format

     I am writing to support the proposal that the federal courts 
adopt the ABA-endorsed citation format, as per the notice published 
in the Federal Register on 2/21/97.

     It is rather odd, actually, that a private publishing company 
should hold a monopoly on the official court decisions of the lower 
federal courts. The uniform system endorsed by the ABA would make it 
easier to cite cases from different jurisdictions, and would not 
impose a significant burden on the courts. Indeed, after a brief 
initial period of learning the new system, it will become second-
nature, just as all new systems become second nature, and within a 
few years the new law clerks will have all graduated from law school 
having learned the new system, so the period of transition should be 
relatively brief.

     Most significantly, in light of the largescale shift to on-line 
research by lawyers, law students, and legal academics, a system that 
assigns identifying numbers immediately to new cases and numbers 
paragraphs of opinions will increase the ease of research and 
citation, and leave the way open to more competition in collecting 
and reporting decisions. 
     
     I urge you to accept the proposal.

Arthur S. Leonard
Arthur S. Leonard, Professor, New York Law School
ALeonard@nyls.edu or ASLeonard@aol.com
212-431-2156