Launched in 1997 KeyCite featured graphical indicators so a Westlaw researcher could instantly tell if a case was good law and assess the depth of discussion of a case in subsequent citing references. The system was based on coloured flags and stars. A red flag indicates a negative history, that is one of the points of law expressed in the case has been reversed. The depth of treatment of a case is represented by stars. Four stars means the citing case contains an extended discussion of the cited case with more than a page of content whereas one star indicates a brief reference which could be among a list of other citations.
Quotation marks means the case was quoted.
Their response to KeyCite was a major reworking of the Shepard's online service which was launched in March this year. The new Shepard's also allows free text searching of a results set that enables narrowing down of results to particular facts. Westlaw has plans to match these developments. Proposed innovations include KeyCite for Statutes which will indicate whether a statute has been amended or repealed and include information regarding pending legislation. There may also be KeyCite Alert, a clipping service that will provide notification when new cases cite a particular case.