Author: Randell Jesup at -Internet Date: 3/12/0 11:40 AM Priority: Normal BCC: citation at AO-OCPPO TO: citation@ao.uscourts.gov at -Internet Subject: Document numbering I feel strongly that no company should enjoy a monopoly over access to the Law. This goes against the basic principles outlined in the Constitution and Declaration of independence, and should be anathema to any society of free individuals. At the very least, citations should be required only in public domain forms (i.e. not West's copyrighted page numbering). Better yet would be for the judiciary to number their documents for citation. Other branches of government seem to have no problem doing this. I find it especially disturbing that West has providing free trips and even cash "prizes" to judges, including 7 of the 9 current Supreme Court Justices (who have denied review to 5 suits attempting to break Westlaw's monopoly). Public documents should be available to the public, and in a form they can use. By requiring all citations be in a form that is not available except through Westlaw, a monopoly on the Law is created, equal access to the law is impinged (since lawyers working for poor clients will have to pay $4/min to search for citations, perhaps pushing the cost of redress (or defense) under the law past what they can pay. If the judiciary wants citations in a specific form, then they should provide the opinions in that form. Legal-database firms should compete on an even basis, not as a monopoly enforced by the judiciary. I'm a layman, but when I was in college several of my friends attempted to form a legal-database in New York State. Even though they had innovative ideas to reduce the cost of making the records available, they failed because no one is allowed by the judiciary to compete with West. Randell Jesup 1309 Skelp Level Rd Downingtown, PA 19335 (610) 363-3347 Randell.Jesup@scala.com