Help! What was the title and author?

[Parrothead]

Probably 20 to 30 years ago, I read a book about a spaceship captain who crash-landed on an idyllic planet. He lived out the rest of his days there, but realized that one day developers would try to take over.

The justice system in the galaxy was administered by computers, and attorneys won or lost cases based on the strength of precedent they cited. The computer weighed the arguments and precedent cited, then rendered its decision with the words "Let justice be done."

The spaceship captain left a little-known but powerful precedent for his newly adopted planet to use when the developers attempted to take over, as indeed they did. The precedent he left ultimately defeated the developers' lawyers.

Does this sound familiar? Can anyone tell me the title or author?


Thanks!

[dreamforever]

I have no idea, but wanted to give a heads up to a fellow parrothead! :)

[tdeanatoz@yahoo]

I posted your query over at another forum, where Mark Stackpole responded that this is probably MONUMENT, by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.

Hope this is the right answer.

[Parrothead]

That's it!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I have been trying to track that down for years. Now I just ordered a copy on Amazon. Thanks again!