The potential of electronic information systems and increased access to New Zealand case law: a study of the establishment of Briefcase and Linx and how these electronic indexes increased access to New Zealand high court judgments

Abstract

This is a study of the New Zealand case law information system. It looks at the introduction of two new indexing tools to the information system that provides access to New Zealand High Court judgments. By first looking at the level of access provided by the print-based information system that existed in the mid eighties, and then documenting the establishment and use of BRIEFCASE and LINX, it examines how these electronic databases extend access to New Zealand High Court judgments. It investigates the hypothesis that the introduction of new technology has had a significant impact on the access provided by the New Zealand case law information system. The study is both historical and exploratory. It documents a previously unrecorded period in New Zealand case law 'publication', and it examines how the introduction of new information technology impacts on the way in which information is accessed. It is concerned with the role and nature of case law information systems, specifically the electronic information retrieval systems, BRIEFCASE and LINX. It looks at the New Zealand case law information system as a combined entity and the part the databases play within that system.