Author: "Paul A. Meloan" <paulam@erols.com> at -Internet
    Date: 3/14/ 0  10:25 AM
Priority: Normal
     BCC: citation at AO-OCPPO
      TO: citation@ao.uscourts.gov at -Internet
 Subject: West Publishing Cites

Dear Sir or Madam:

     I am writing to comment upon the proposal for US Courts to adopt 
a public-domain system of citation to replace the West Publishing 
monopoly on citations.

     As a sole practitioner and a relatively new attorney, the 
Internet and other "soft" sources of law and legal information are a 
vital part of my practice, and help me to provide services to my 
clients on a cost-effective basis.

     The idea that a private company can hold a monopoly over the 
CITES THEMSELVES, and not just added editorial content, is ridiculous 
and absurd. Allowing West to continue this stranglehold over 
information will not serve a valuable public interest in having ready 
access to laws and court decisions.

     I urge your organization to press ahead with a public citation 
system and eliminate this purported ownership of cites.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   Paul A. Meloan, Esq.
                                   paulam@erols.com
                                   Rockville, MD USA