[nathan_long]

>> What isn't free is all the work Lexis Nexis and West Law do to edit, cross-reference, index, etc, cases.

Sure. But they are paid with public dollars to do this work, and so are effectively working for the public. Therefore, their contract should state that their work must be made public.

Really, it shouldn't matter to them whether they get the right to sell copies or get paid more up front for the work; they make money either way. But it matters for democracy.