Author: "James E. Leinweber" 
Date: 3/14/-0 09:08 AM
Priority: Normal
BCC: citation at AO-OCPPO
TO: citation@ao.uscourts.gov at -Internet
Subject: support for ABA proposal for public domain citations of cour

     I fully support the recent ABA proposal to move to a public 
domain system of citations for court opinions, based on paragraph 
numbering. This will provide a uniform system, aiding citizens 
studying the legal system, academic research on legal issues, and 
increasing access to legal documents by small businesses.

     It is understandable that West Publishing is upset by the 
potential harm to their current near-monopoly position providing 
legal reporting services, but their private profit motives should be 
entirely outweighed by the public interest in this case.

James E. Leinweber
Information Systems - State Laboratory of Hygiene - University of 
Wisconsin
<jiml@slh.wisc.edu> 465 Henry Mall, Madison WIU 53706-1578 USA +1 608 
262 0736