Subject: ABA Citation Resolution
   Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 11:02:46 -0800
   From: Jim Duncan <jgdlaf@teleport.com>
     To: citation@teo.uscourts.gov
     CC: jgdlaf@teleport.com

     The public is asked to comment on two questions:

     (1) Whether the federal courts should adopt the form of official 
citation for court decisions recommended by the ABA resolution;

     My comment is that a public domain method of citation would 
eliminate the judicial "poll tax" now imposed by West Publishing.  
Who knows how many young persons might become enamoured of the law, 
the constitution and the legal profession were court decisions more 
readily available. What better way is there to influence both 
American society (and that of the world via the internet) than 
through the ready availability of our constitution, our judicial 
interpretations and our laws by using a public domain citation system 
-- if it is legal, institutions and individuals will publish these at 
no cost!

     (2) The costs and benefits such a decision would have on the 
courts, the bar, and the public.

     My comment to this aspect is that it appears likely to me that 
various jurisdictions at the state and local level will have no 
options, but will be forced through citizen initiative processes to 
change to a public domain citation system. Such initiatives will 
fragment (note the plethora of term limit methods) access by both the 
public and the judiciary to the various decisions. At least the staff 
of federal judges will be forced to learn multiple methods of 
citation and/or both private attorneys and state/local jurisdictions 
will have to multiple citations for any court decision appealed to 
the federal level.

     Thank you for your time,

                                   James Gene Duncan
                                   P.O. Box 217
                                   Scotts Mills, OR  97375-0217
                                   jgdlaf@teleport.com