States Plan to See Microsoft Case Through

State attorneys general say they are determined to pursue the antitrust case against Microsoft Corp., even if the Justice Department under President-elect George W. Bush tries to back away. Microsoft is appealing a trial court ruling that it abused its monopoly power and should be split in two to prevent further antitrust violations. The U.S. Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in February after top posts in the Justice Department are filled. A top economic advisor to Bush has criticized antitrust enforcement under President Clinton. “We hope and assume that the Bush administration would fully pursue the Microsoft case through all stages, including the Supreme Court, if that’s necessary,” said Iowa Atty. Gen. Tom Miller, leader of the 19 states that are co-plaintiffs in the case with the federal government. “However, if for some reason they don’t, we have made a commitment to pursue this case to the end.” The Clinton administration’s last hurrah will come Friday, when it files a 150-page brief with the appeals court ahead of oral arguments Feb. 27 and 28.