To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Barbara A. Menear, Circuit Court Administrator
title
RE: Request to enter into a contract with West Publishing Corporation (dba, West, a Thomson Reuters business) for electronic legal research and related products.
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve Contract with West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters) for electronic legal research and related products.
BACKGROUND:
In June 2019, the Circuit Court received authorization to enter into a contract with West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters) to provide electronic legal research for county employees (RESO 19-987). This contract will expire on June 30, 2024.
Electronic legal research is used by judges, judicial law clerks and all other Genesee County employees who are attorneys. The Circuit Court historically managed the contract for convenience and one-point of contact with the vendor.
DISCUSSION:
The State of Michigan has a MiDEAL contract #C20000000622 with West Publishing, Corporation (Thomson Reuters). Under this agreement, local units of government may enter into contracts with West Publishing and take advantage of state negotiated pricing. This agenda item seeks to take advantage of the MiDeal option.
A team including courts, prosecutor and public defender was established to review the catalogue of electronic legal research options. This request is to approve a contract that satisfies the requirements of all courts and departments for electronic legal research.
An additional research option referred to as CLEAR is part of this request for a limited number of non-attorney subscribers as a "people locator" for enforcement of court orders. CLEAR has historically been provided for the same purpose, to the same users.
Limited hard copy legal publications are also necessary and subject to a discounted rate from this vendor. Courts and departments, with attorney staff members, work individually with this...
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