Subject:  Proposed ABA Citation
Date:     Sat, 1 Mar 1997 12:51:07 -0500 (EST)
From:     Ronald Jones <rajones@iag.net>
To:       citation@teo.uscourts.gov

     I fully support the proposed method of citation and placing 
caselaw on the Web. While there are transitional problems to be 
worked out, it is fairly obvious that within my professional lifetime 
both electronic filing and hypertext law will become the standard.

     I do know that one very common objection to electronic filing 
and hypertext law is that not every attorney has access to the Net, 
but given the steadily decreasing cost of internet access (~$20 per 
month through a variety of providers) and increasing ease of use I 
honestly think that at this point Net access should be considered on 
the same basis as telephone access -- something any business person, 
and certainly any attorney would have.

     While the West system has served attorneys very well, there is 
nothing to prevent West from continuing to provide services. 
Attorneys will still make use of headnotes, digests and annotated 
statutes. West will simply not have a 'lock' on the provision of bare 
caselaw. Those attorneys who wish to make use of hard copy printed 
law will likely still be able to purchase reporters, but those of us 
who prefer to use electronic methods will be able to do so and at 
considerably lower cost.

Ronald A. Jones, Esq.
rajones@iag.net