Subject:  Uniform Official Citation
Date:     Fri, 7 Mar 1997 05:34:30 -0600 (CST)
From:     haeu@ix.netcom.com
To:       citation@teo.uscourts.gov

     I support a system of uniform citation for the Federal courts 
which would allow all publishers to have the same page system.

     However, I am not sure that the ABA proposal of consecutively 
numbered paragraphs is the best system since it would require that 
each new opinion be restructured.

     I would suggest that each opinion be assigned a unique number 
while each paragraph be assigned a internal letter designation 
starting with AA, AB, AC etc. Thus the fifth paragraph of the 20th 
Federal Rules decision filed in 1998 would look like 998FRD0020ae or 
1998FRD0020AE

     The cost of a paper library for a small law office is very high. 
Electronic reporting would allow the Judicial Conference to publish 
the decisions, and make them available at low cost to the public. 
Either on a per use basis or on a monthly subscription basis. Head 
notes, or reporter notes like the Supreme Courts, could be an 
additional service paid for by the subscriber and added by a 
contractor who is paid separately.

Richard L. Haeussler
3151 Airway Ave., Suite A-3
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-4620

714/641-9110
fax 714/641-5016
haeu@ix.netcom.com