Author: Al Millstein at ~Internet Date: 3/12/ 0 01:08 PM Priority: Normal BCC: citation at AO-OCPPO TO: citation@ao.uscourts.gov at ~Internet CC: love@tap.org at ~Internet Subject: ABA Citation Resolution Message Contents I am an attorney handling state court appointed criminal appeals of indigent defendants. I find it appalling that the Thomson/West publishing complex has been permitted to monopolize vast areas of available case law resources. Those of us who do the kind of work I am engaged in are financially at the mercy of a non-competitive system, and have little control over the costs of research materials. We are paid very little for important work; the quality of appeals, involving basic constitutional rights of offenders is at issue. It is my impression that the ABA proposal would expand the availability of such resources, both with respect to ease of access and cost. Many, or most of us have acquired, or will acquire Internet and online facilities; it would be short-sighted to restrict the development of new systems of case law availability, or fail to keep pace with the developing technology, as represented in the ABA plan. Apart from the needs of such practitioners as myself, the interest of the general public would be served by the increased access to information. I believe the healthiest aspect of the "information revolution" is the increased use and awareness by citizens of hitherto unavailable resources. Not the least of those affected are prisoners, who are in need of better research resources, to pursue their own interests to which they are entitled. ALFRED MILLSTEIN Attorney at Law 2715 Cadillac Tower Detroit, MI 48226