Personnel committee approves national Westlaw access for Knox County law library

The Knox County Personnel Committee voted to renew the law library’s online legal research subscription with national coverage and expand access to six terminals, the panel decided at its March 2024 meeting.

Jackson Fenner, a Knox County resident who signed up to speak during public forum, urged the committee to restore full, nationwide access. "This is for indigent defendants," Fenner said. "We need the resources to represent our clients who are relying on us to be able to do our job to the fullest." He told the committee that private appointed attorneys often rely on out-of-state opinions as persuasive authority when Tennessee courts have not yet ruled on an issue.

County staff briefed the committee on two replacement plans. "Westlaw and Lexis are absolutely vital to the modern practice of law. There's no substitute for them," Mr. Moyers said, outlining costs and options. He said the county had been paying about $3,310 per month for three terminals—just shy of $40,000 a year—and that the committee could replace that with either a Tennessee-plus-federal option or a national subscription. Both replacement plans would expand access to six terminals; Moyers said the national option would cost about $30,500 a year while still trimming rarely used treatises and eliminating the law librarian position.

Commissioner Lee backed the wider coverage, arguing attorneys need out-of-state precedents to support motions in court. "It is crucial for our clients," Commissioner Lee said. "This is not for the attorneys; it's on behalf of indigent defense that would be ineffective for us to represent them without having these services." Commissioner Daley said national coverage includes Tennessee and advocated approving the broader plan.

A committee member asked whether the county could "piggyback" on the public defender's subscription. The committee was told the public defender’s services and network are separate and cannot be shared with the courthouse law library.

Commissioner Daley moved to approve the national plan providing six terminals; Commissioner Lee seconded the motion. The chair called the vote, and the ayes prevailed. Mr. Moyers said the county's contract specialist, Charlie Sherki, will review the agreement and execute it if it is in order.

The committee adjourned with no further business.