Chambers Survey on Electronic Research Services
In connection with the ability of CM/ECF documents to contain
hyperlinks to research services, so that cited authorities are only a click away, the court conducted an informal survey of chambers. Responses were received from each chambers. Westlaw is in use in all chambers. Two or three chambers make secondary use of Lexis.
Importantly, chambers have access to Lexis and Westlaw passwords, so citation hyperlinks in either service are acceptable and appreciated. The Administrative Procedures II. C. 1. permit "citations of legal authority in standard citation format [to] be hyperlinked to recognized electronic research services, such as Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, Findlaw and official government sites. " Further, hyperlinks may refer internally to an electronically file document, so that a table of contents or authorities may contain hyperlinks. Other hyperlinks are not currently permitted, and "[h]yperlinks to cited legal authority may not replace standard citation format."