Author: <JohnGags@aol.com> at ~Internet 
     Date: 3/13/ 0 02:14 PM 
 Priority: Normal 
      BCC: citation at AO-OCPPO 
       TO: citation@ao.uscourts.gov at ~Internet 
  Subject: ABA Citation Resolution 

     My name is John E. Gagliano. I am an attorney with the firm of 
Cohen, Gettings, Dunham & Davis, P.C. in Arlington, Virginia. My 
address is 2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22201. My 
telephone is 703-525-2260. My fax is 703-525-2489. 

     I am writing to express my strong support for adoption and 
implementation by the courts of the United States and of the 50 
states of the uniform citation scheme outlined in the ABA Uniform 
Citation resolution. 

     My support of uniform satiation derives from several levels. The 
first is my strong belief that no one "owns" the law. By definition, 
the law is in the public domain and should be accessible to all 
without favoritism or advantage to any legal publisher. The current 
system is clearly rigged in favor of West Publishing and their 
National Reporter System. To West's credit, they developed a very 
useful system of citation during an age when information was scarce 
and disorganized. For their efforts, West has enjoyed a hugely 
profitable monopoly for decades. In fact, this has been so profitable 
for West, heretofore a closely-held American company, that it has 
been bought out recently in a multi-billion dollar transaction by the 
Canadian publisher Thomson. Thus, to the extent that West has added 
value to the legal community through a system they developed in 
another age, it has now reaped the rewards. Going forward into the 
future, however, is and should be a different story. 

     The ABA's Uniform Citation recommendation makes great sense. It 
allows for a common citation mechanism which is independent of West 
and any other publisher. It would allow the law to be much more 
accessible to the common person and will drive down the cost of legal 
services markedly. I do not think that there can be any serious 
debate on this point. 

     The only concern I hear is that such a change will disrupt and 
destroy "a good thing." However, the current system is not "a good 
thing" because it is beneficial only for a precious and privileged 
few in our society. The law should not be so undemocratic. The 
complaints I hear about the proposed change are simply reflections of 
a fear of change. For the most part, these are people who fear the 
electronic age and have no use for computers. Say what you will about 
computers and technology, but clearly they are tools of greater 
democracy in our society. 

     The courts of the United States must recognize that this is a 
different world now. If the change is not made now, it is sure to 
come soon. There is no stopping the advances in information and 
technology. The case law of the courts deserves to be part of this 
information explosion. It makes sense for the consumer. It makes 
sense for the Judges. It makes sense for the lawyers. It makes sense 
for society. Please adopt the uniform citation system recommended by 
the ABA. 
 
     Thank you for your attention to this very important matter. 

John Gagliano