USSC Text Analysis Software

This directory contains software used during the writing of the research paper Detecting Multiple Authorship of United States Supreme Court Legal Decisions Using Function Words, by Jeffrey S. Rosenthal and Albert H. Yoon (2009), published in the Annals of Applied Statistics 5(1):283-308, 2011.

This software is designed for use only on linux/unix/Mac computers (not on Microsoft Windows machines).

All programs in this directory are Copyright (c) 2010 by Jeffrey S. Rosenthal, and are licensed for general copying, distribution and modification according to the GNU General Public License.

There are two different related versions of the software. Installation instructions for both versions follow.

The Justia Version (better)

First, on your own linux/unix/Mac computer, make sure you have "cc" and "lynx" installed. ("cc" or "gcc" is the C compiler; on linux/unix it should come pre-loaded, but for Mac you might need to install the (free) Xcode package. "lynx" is a plain-text web browser, widely available for free download by searching the web, e.g. there is a Mac version, and Debian and Ubuntu and RedHat linux packages.)

Then, open a Unix shell window (on Mac, use the "Terminal" application).

Then, create and move into an appropriate directory, e.g. by typing:

mkdir usscj
cd usscj
Then, download and run the usscj INSTALL file, e.g. by typing:
lynx -source http://probability.ca/usscj/INSTALL > INSTALL
chmod +x INSTALL
./INSTALL
(This may take a few minutes, as it downloads and installs and compiles all the needed software to enable you to download and analyse USSC decisions.)

You are now ready to begin! Just follow the instructions in the usscj README file to use the software in various ways.

(This version obtains USSC decisions from the the Justia.com US Supreme Court Center.)

The Cornell Version (earlier)

As above, make sure your computer has "cc" and "lynx" installed.

Then, open a Unix shell window, and create and move into an appropriate directory, e.g. by typing:

mkdir usscc
cd usscc

Then, download and run the usscc INSTALL file, e.g. by typing:

lynx -source http://probability.ca/usscc/INSTALL > INSTALL
chmod +x INSTALL
./INSTALL
(This may take a few minutes, as it downloads and installs and compiles all the needed software to enable you to download and analyse USSC decisions.)

Then, follow the instructions in the usscc README file to use the software.

(This version obtains USSC decisions from the Cornell University Law School Supreme Court collection.)

You may contact me with questions.

-- Jeffrey Rosenthal (contact info)