PART Ⅰ: Legal decision and communication processes 1
1 Context of retrieval systems 3
2 Decision processes 6
2.1 Introduction 6
2.2 Initiation 7
2.3 The facts of the case 10
2.3.1 The probable facts of the case 10
2.3.2 The proven facts of the case 11
2.4 Legal sources 13
2.5 The retrieval process 18
2.6 Interpretation: Relationsbetween sources and norms 26
2.6.1 Relevancy of sources weight of arguments 26
2.6.2 Words and uncertainty 30
2.6.3 Harmonization 34
2.7 The normative interval 37
2.8 The result and feedback from the result 40
2.9 Standards for legal information retrieval 44
3 Communication processes 50
3.1 Introduction 50
3.2 The editorial process: Data base selection 52
3.2.1 Introduction 52
3.2.2 Selection 54
3.2.3 The data base 59
(1) Representativity 59
(2) Objectivity 63
(3) Updating 66
3.3 The editorial process: Document design 69
3.3.1 Documents 69
3.3.2 Three typical forms of documents 74
(1) Indexes 74
(2) Abstracts 79
(3) Authentic text 83
3.3.3 Functional performance 84
(1) Introduction 84
(2) The retrieval function 86
(3) The relevance function 93
(4) The source function 97
(5) T he current awarness function 100
3.3.4 Conclusions 102
3.4 The information system 105
3.4.1 Elements of the information system 105
3.4.2 Information - and on what 106
(1) The concept of information 106
(2) The subject of information 109
3.5 Using the information system 113
3.5.1 User-constructed information systems 113
3.5.2 Availability factors 115
(1) Introduction 115
(2) Pragmatic and formal availablity factors 117
(3) User research on availability factos: An example 118
3.5.2 The cost curve 120
(1) Area of interest -area of documentation 120
(2) The local data base: The concept of coverage 122
(3) Factors determinig the cost curve 125
(4) Availability discrimination 129
3.5.4 Active and passive use ofinformation systems 131
(1) Introduction 131
(2) Functional performance 133
(3) Delegation 135
3.5.5 Technological change and costs 137
PART Ⅱ: Text retrieval 141
4 Anatomy of text retrieval 143
4.1 Introduction 143
4.1.1 Defining an informationretrieval system 143
4.1.2 Sketch of an informationretrieval system 145
4.1.3 Different user situations 148
4.2 Characteristics of text retrieval 151
4.2.1 Document retrieval 151
4.2.2 Full text retrieval 151
4.2.3 Interest retrieval 152
4.3 The retrieval process 154
4.4 Choosing the data base 157
4.5 Retrieval strategies 160
4.5.1 Introduction 160
4.5.2 The retrieval function 160
(1) Simulating relevanceassessment 160
(2) Identity functions 161
(3) Nearness functions 164
(4) Combinations of identityand nearness functions 173
4.5.3 Iterative techniques 175
(1) Introduction 175
(2) Relevance feedback 176
(3) Local metrical feedback 177
(4) Computerized processing of search requests snowball functions 178
(5) A preprocessor to textretrieval systems 178
4.6 Aids in formulating search requests 180
4.6.1 Formulating the request 180
4.6.2 Examples of different aids 181
(1) Truncation 181
(2) Mask functions 182
(3) Automatic stemming 182
(4) Thesaurus 182
4.6.3 Choosing the level of performance 183
4.7 Examples of file structures 185
4.7.1 Inverted file structure 185
4.7.2 Vector based systems 189
4.8 Appendix I: Some important textretrieval systems 190
4.9 Appendix II: The concept of relevance 197
4.9.1 Types of relevance: Formal,content, and subjectiverelevance 197
4.9.2 The nature of relevance: Absolute and relative relevance 199
4.9.3 The grading of relevance: Grading by degrees or binary grading? 199
4.9.4 The relevance concept as used in this book 202
5 Research regarding the performance and design of text retrieval systems 204
5.1 Introduction 204
5.2 General research 207
5.2.1 The Aslib-Cranfield projects: 1960-1966 207
5.2.2 The SMART project: 1964-1983 209
5.2.3 The MEDLARS evaluation: 1966-1967 214
5.2.4 The"Comparative SystemsLaboratory Experiments"Projects: 1963-1968 217
5.3 Development and design of text etrieval systems 218
5.3.1 The CONDOR project: 1973-1981 220
5.3.2 The SPIRIT system 222
5.4 Research regarding legal systems 226
5.4.1 The joint ABF/IBM project: 1966-1967 226
5.4.2 The Oxford experiments: 1963-1965, 1976-1982 227
5.4.3 The Responsa project: 1967-1983 230
5.4.4 The WIENER SYSTEM 233
5.4.5 The MAJUS program:1974-1977 235
5.4.5 The NORIS research program:1972-1983 236
PART Ⅲ: International survey of legal information retrieval 247
6 A brief history of computerized information retrieval 249
6.1 Introduction 249
6.2 Background 251
6.2.1 Libraries and indexes 251
6.2.2 Jurimetrics 253
6.3 The initiative 257
6.3.1 The Pittsburgh project 257
6.3.2 The Aspen Systems Corporation 260
6.3.3 The Oxford experiments 264
6.4 Aprofusion of projects 264
6.4.1 Introduction 264
6.4.2 Law Research Services,Inc 265
6.4.3 RIRA: Reports and Information Retrieval Activity 268
7 Current information systems 272
7.1 International organizations 272
7.1.1 Introduction 272
7.1.2 Intergovernmental Bureau of Informatics 273
7.1.3 The Council of Europe 274
7.1.4 The European Communities 278
7.1.5 EURONET DIANE 285
7.1.6 World Health Organization 286
7.1.7 INTERDOC 286
7.2 Argentina 288
7.3 Australia 289
7.3.1 Introduction 289
7.3.2 The SCALE project 290
7.3.3 Future developments in Australia 292
7.4 Austria 294
7.5 Belgium 298
7.5.1 Introduction 298
7.5.2 CREDOC 299
7.5.3 JUSTEL 305
7.5.4 Samsom 307
7.6 Brazil 309
7.7 Canada 311
7.7.1 Introduction 311
7.7.2 Quebec:from DATUM to SOQULJ 314
7.7.3 From QULC/LAW to QT.Systems 322
7.7.4 Carswell Legal publicaions 330
7.8 Denmark 331
7.8.1 Introduction 331
7.8.2 DC-jura 333
7.8.3 DATA LEX 335
7.9 Finland 337
7.10 France 341
7.10.1 Introduction 341
7.10.2 IRETIJ 345
7.10.3 CEDIJ 350
7.10.4 SYDONI 356
7.10.5 JURIS-DATA 359
7.10.6 LEXIS 360
7.10.7 Specialized or regional information systems 361
7.11 Germany 367
7.11.1 Introduction 367
7.11.2 JURIS 373
(1) Introduction 373
(2) JURIS pilot system 376
(3) Extended JURIS system 382
7.11.3 DATEV 384
7.12 Greece 388
7.13 Holland 390
7.13.1 Introduction 390
7.13.2 Kluwer JURID 391
7.13.3 The PARAC - Vermande project 393
7.14 Ireland 395
7.15 Israel 396
7.16 Italy 397
7.16.1 Introduction 397
7.16.2 ITALGIURE 399
7.16.3 Istituto per la documentazione giurdica 408
7.16.4 Camera dei deputati 409
7.17 Japan 412
7.18 Luxemburg 413
7.19 Mexico 414
7.19.1 Introduction 414
7.19.2 UNAM-JURE 414
7.20 New Zealand 416
7.21 Norway 418
7.21.1 Introduction 418
7.21.2 Lawdata 422
7.22 Spain 427
7.23 Sweden 429
7.23.1 Introduction 429
7.23.2 From RI to Raettsdata 431
7.24 Switzerland 440
7.25 United Kingdom 441
7.25.1 Introduction 441
(1) The STATUS project 441
(2) The Society for Computers and Law 443
(3) Universities and research institutions 445
(4) A note on unreported cases 449
7.25.2 LEXIS 452
7.25.3 EUROLEX 456
7.25.4 Prestel services 461
(1) Infolex 461
(2) Lawtel 462
7.25.5 Northcrn lreland-and the BTRD systems 464
7.26 United stathcrn of America 467
7.26.1 Lntroduction 467
7.26.2 From LlTE to FLITE 473
7.26.3 JURIS:Justice RetrievaI and Inquiery system 476
7.26.4 LEXIS 484
7.26.5 WESTLAW 497
Literature 505
Alphabctical index 533
Index to figures and tables 57
Fig 3/1 - Relations between the data bases of three different information systems with identical documentation areas 57
Fig 3/2 - Relations beweenpublication ratio and representativity 62
Fig 3/3 - Average recall-precision curves for three different types of documents 92
Fig 3/4 - Relevance assessment based on abstracts 96
Fig 3/5 - Document types and system functions 102
Fig 3/6 - Document design and system functions 103
Fig 3/7 - Causes for missing information 119
Fig 3/8 - Typical cost curve for use of information services in an average case - elbow indicating "local data base" 123