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United States V. Peltier (1974)

 

Document 1

From: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 15th, 1975
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 2

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 2nd, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 3

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: April 2nd, 1975
Action: Will Write Dissenting Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a dissenting opinion draft, including that a dissenting opinion will be out soon or that a revised draft of the dissenting opinion will be circulated; this also applies to statements responding to dissent assignments like will be glad to write dissent, self-assignment of dissent (e.g., we are in dissent and I will write it), or requesting permission to write dissent (e.g., is it ok if I write a dissent)

Document 4

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: April 3rd, 1975
Action: Join Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins the majority opinion includes please join me; I agree; I am still with you; I acquiesce; I will go along; I dissent but will be silent; graveyard join or dissent. This code includes join of memorandum opinions if it is written by the assigned author, orders if it disposes of case, decrees, per curiam opinions. It also includes statements that the justice joins, but subject to what others might write.

Document 5

From: Byron R. White
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: April 4th, 1975
Action: Join Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins the majority opinion includes please join me; I agree; I am still with you; I acquiesce; I will go along; I dissent but will be silent; graveyard join or dissent. This code includes join of memorandum opinions if it is written by the assigned author, orders if it disposes of case, decrees, per curiam opinions. It also includes statements that the justice joins, but subject to what others might write.

Document 6

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 9th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 7

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: April 10th, 1975
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 8

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: April 10th, 1975
Action: Suggestion to Majority Opinion
This includes memo with broad statements including that a justice cannot join the opinion, cannot join a part of the opinion, does not agree with the opinion, or has continuing doubts with the opinion; memos that indicate that the author's change is not enough; memos that make suggestions for specific changes to majority opinion or that express reservations about some aspect of the majority opinion; this code is also given for suggestions to memorandum opinions by an assigned author
Action: May Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will likely) write a concurring opinion; this also applies to opinions that concur in part, concurrences in judgment, or concurrences at foot.

Document 9

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: April 15th, 1975
Action: Join Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins the majority opinion includes please join me; I agree; I am still with you; I acquiesce; I will go along; I dissent but will be silent; graveyard join or dissent. This code includes join of memorandum opinions if it is written by the assigned author, orders if it disposes of case, decrees, per curiam opinions. It also includes statements that the justice joins, but subject to what others might write.

Document 10

From: Warren E. Burger
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: April 17th, 1975
Action: Join Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins the majority opinion includes please join me; I agree; I am still with you; I acquiesce; I will go along; I dissent but will be silent; graveyard join or dissent. This code includes join of memorandum opinions if it is written by the assigned author, orders if it disposes of case, decrees, per curiam opinions. It also includes statements that the justice joins, but subject to what others might write.
Action: Will Make Suggestion
Memo states that a justice will make a suggestion to the majority opinion, including statements that a justice will postpone making a suggestion for now or that the justice may make suggestion

Document 11

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: April 22nd, 1975
Action: Suggestion to Majority Opinion
This includes memo with broad statements including that a justice cannot join the opinion, cannot join a part of the opinion, does not agree with the opinion, or has continuing doubts with the opinion; memos that indicate that the author's change is not enough; memos that make suggestions for specific changes to majority opinion or that express reservations about some aspect of the majority opinion; this code is also given for suggestions to memorandum opinions by an assigned author

Document 12

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: None
On: April 24th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion Author's Response
May be response to a suggestion, reservation, or a separate opinion; may also say that author will respond to another opinion; may state majority opinion author's change to opinion that was not prompted by another justice; may indicate that the opinion is different from the conference discussion; may be a circulation of a portion of the opinion (a footnote, multiple pages without circulating the whole opinion); may be a suggestion from the majority opinion author regarding several options for changing majority opinion; may be a suggestion from the author for a change that could be made to opinion

Document 13

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: April 24th, 1975
Action: Thank You Notes
Justices circulate memos thanking another justice for making a change to an opinion or thanking an author for considering a justice's suggestions
Action: Change is Acceptable
Memo indicating that a change to majority opinion is acceptable to a justice (e.g., suggested change is ok with me; like changes in majority opinion).
Action: Will Not Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will not write a concurring opinion or an opinion that concurs in part

Document 14

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Warren E. Burger, Byron R. White, Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: None
On: April 25th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion Author's Response
May be response to a suggestion, reservation, or a separate opinion; may also say that author will respond to another opinion; may state majority opinion author's change to opinion that was not prompted by another justice; may indicate that the opinion is different from the conference discussion; may be a circulation of a portion of the opinion (a footnote, multiple pages without circulating the whole opinion); may be a suggestion from the majority opinion author regarding several options for changing majority opinion; may be a suggestion from the author for a change that could be made to opinion

Document 15

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 28th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 16

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: April 28th, 1975
Action: Change is Acceptable
Memo indicating that a change to majority opinion is acceptable to a justice (e.g., suggested change is ok with me; like changes in majority opinion).

Document 17

From: Warren E. Burger
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Byron R. White, Harry A. Blackmun
On: April 30th, 1975
Action: Change is Acceptable
Memo indicating that a change to majority opinion is acceptable to a justice (e.g., suggested change is ok with me; like changes in majority opinion).

Document 18

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 5th, 1975
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 19

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: May 6th, 1975
Action: Join Dissent
Memos where a justice states that they join a dissenting opinion, including joining the dissent in part, joining a dissent from denial of cert, or joining a dissent at foot. The identity of the dissenting opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 20

From: Potter Stewart
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: May 6th, 1975
Action: Dissent at Foot
This refers to a letter where a justice asks that a dissent (or a dissent in part) be noted at the foot of an opinion; it also includes at foot opinions that indicates the justice wants the Court to hear arguments and decide rather than dismiss or decide summarily

Document 21

From: Warren E. Burger
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: May 6th, 1975
Action: Suggestion to Separate Opinion
Memo states includes a justice's suggestion for a separate opinion (e.g., don't agree with reasoning of separate opinion; comment on separate opinion; will join separate opinion if; cannot join separate opinion; will be making suggestion to separate opinion). The identity of the separate opinion author who receives suggestion is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 22

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 9th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 23

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 13th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 24

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 15th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 25

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 20th, 1975
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 26

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 9th, 1975
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference

Document 27

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 23rd, 1975
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference

Document 28

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 24th, 1975
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference