Author: alhernan@smart1.net (Hernandez; Alfred E.) at -Internet
Date: 3/13/ 0 10:44 AM
Priority: Normal
BCC: citation at AO-OCPPO
TO: citation@ao.uscourts.gov at -Internet
Subject: Public access to case law

     After 16 years of practicing law, I am still appalled at the 
monopoly West Publishing has held over legal precedent for 75 years. 
All cases are matters of public record. All opinions are matters of 
public record. Yet the only access that people have to these opinions 
is by using the West system -- for an outrageous fee.

     The ABA has proposed a free, public domain citation system. I am 
sure this could be used along with the West citation system. Since 
public access to the cases is inevitable, with the advent of personal 
computers and the Internet, it seems a sensible solution.

     The benefits would be enormous. Finally the people who pay for 
all of these court opinions (you do remember the public, don't you?) 
would have the law available to them. After all, they own it. And 
with the legal system open to view, perhaps the mysterious (and 
frankly ominous) shroud of secrecy will finally be lifted and the 
public can see that "the system" does actually work. 

     I hope that you will adopt the ABA's proposal.

                                   Alfred Eugene Hernandez
                                   Attorney at Law
                                   San Antonio, Tx.
                                   210-227-8111