code: public static String getValue(String value) {
          if (value == null) {
              return null;
          }
          String v = removeQuotes(value.trim()).trim();
          if (v.isEmpty()) {
              return null;
          }
          return v;
      }
docs: Sometimes, the JACL representation of a null or empty value includes
  quotation marks. Calling this method will parse away the extra JACL
  syntax and return a real or null value
  
  @param value
  an unchecked input value
  @return the real value described by the input value