Subject: Support for revision of citation system Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 21:05:41 -0700 From: Lyle Organization: Unorganized To: citation@teo.uscourts.gov To Whom It May Concern: I fully support the ABA proposal to the U.S. Judicial Conference to completely revise the citation system for cases. West continues to argue that their pagination system is protected by copyright. West's pending merger with Thompson only allows zero-fee license for use of their system for four years, then fees resume (if copyright is upheld). This situation is denying the public free access to the courts and should not be allowed to continue. The proposed change would effectively end West's monopoly on US court citations and allow all - legal as well as general public -- access, as its should be. I am not a lawyer, yet I try to read as many court cases as I can. The current monopoly severely restricts my access to caselaw. I cannot afford to subscribe to Westlaw, nor do I like the fact that I must pay, through my taxes, for judges to get access to data paid for by the American people. Please adopt the ABA proposal and put the caselaw back into the hands of those that have paid for it: The Public! Lyle McBroom d160 Shelter Valley Kalispell, MT 59901 lyle@digisys.net