[11136] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Judicial Conf--citations--West's stealth campaign, Who Owns the (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (James Love)
Wed Mar 12 23:11:03 1997
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 19:14:28 -0600 (CST)
From: James Love <love@tap.org>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 14:42:47 -0500 (EST)
From: Eleanor.Lewis/TA.Staff/Internal/Tax.Analysts/US@essential.org
Reply-To: Eleanor@essential.org
To: Multiple recipients of list <upd-discuss@essential.org>
Subject: Judicial Conf--citations--West's stealth campaign, Who Owns the
Comments concerning the federal courts' adopting the ABA -endorsed citation
format are due to the US Judicial Conference by close of business on Friday,
3-14-97. They can be submitted by email to citation@ao.uscourts.gov and by
fax to 202/273-1555. Heading or Reference should be made at the top to ABA
Citation Resolution. Original notice appeared in federal Register of 2-21-97
at page 8037-8 and is available on GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
The Federal Register noted all comments received are public information. Today
I called to make an appointment to read the comments received to date. I was
called back an hour later and told by Joan Countryman of the federal courts,
"we have not yet established a procedure for visitors to view the comments.
You cannot see them until after March 14." Executive branch agencies, EPA,
FTC, HUD, etc. routinely let the public view public comments during the comment
period. In fact, some parties submit comments early, so others will read them
before submitting their own comments. It doesn't take hours of work or a
genius to establish a procedure whereby I sit at a table, look at pages in a
loose leaf book, tell them which I want copied at the outrageous cost of .50
per page, pay for the xeroxing and obtain a receipt. But if you are not
particularly interested in providing public access, you establish barriers such
as these.
West is visiting/writing/calling federal judges and explaining how bad the
changes will be for them. The high prices you pay West for their products is
now being used to finance this full press attack on the ABA citation
proposal. West tells judges it will require judges, their secretaries and
clerks to learn complicated new procedures and take their valuable time.
Many judges have written and objected to the proposed changes because they like
things as they are ( and they like the percs and personal attention they get
from West employees). According to the judges, the proposed citation change
will cost lots of money and take the valuable time of their already over-worked
staff, so leave things as they are. It doesn't matter that everyone else in th
e country pays West millions of dollars in excessive fees--tough.
I asked twice if I could see the letters submitted by federal judges and I was
told both times by Joan Countryman, "I cannot answer that question." Not only
is West conducting a stealth campaign, but there also are two levels of
comments--public and secret.
Upset by what you read--submit comments and get all your colleagues and friends
to. Inform your congressman and senators what is occuring. It appears the
federal judiciary is run for the convenience and benefit of West, not the
American people.
Eleanor Lewis, Executive Director, American Association of Legal Publishers,
282 North Washington Street, Falls Church, VA 22046; fax: 301/652-2970,
phone: 301/652-297-
