Show / Hide Files

Blue Chips Stamps V. Manor Drug Stores (1974)

 

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: None
On: April 1st, 1975
Action: Dissent Opinion Assignment
The memo may ask another justice to write a dissent; a justice may indicate that the dissent will not be assigned right now; memo responding to a dissent assignment (but not accepting assignment, which would be Code 204)

Document 2

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: April 7th, 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 3

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: None
On: April 14th, 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: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 9th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 5

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: May 9th, 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 6

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: May 12th, 1975
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 7

From: Potter Stewart
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: May 12th, 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 8

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: May 13th, 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 9

From: Byron R. White
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: May 16th, 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: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 19th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 11

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 20th, 1975
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 12

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: May 23rd, 1975
Action: Cover Memo to Separate Opinion
This indicates a cover memo to any separate opinion, including concurring, dissenting, or any other type of separate opinion

Document 13

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 27th, 1975
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 14

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: May 27th, 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 15

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 27th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 16

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

Document 17

From: Warren E. Burger
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: May 29th, 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 18

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 2nd, 1975
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 19

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

Document 20

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: June 2nd, 1975
Action: Join Concurrence
Memos where a justice states that they join a concurring opinion, including joining a concurrence in part, joining a concurrence in judgment or result, or joining a concurrence at foot. The identity of the concurring opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 21

From: William O. Douglas
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: June 2nd, 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 22

From: Potter Stewart
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: June 4th, 1975
Action: Join Concurrence
Memos where a justice states that they join a concurring opinion, including joining a concurrence in part, joining a concurrence in judgment or result, or joining a concurrence at foot. The identity of the concurring opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 23

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: None
On: June 4th, 1975
Action: Separate Opinion Author's Response
Circulation of Change to Separate Opinion (e.g., footnote, portion of opinion, adding paragraph); this occurs in a memo, not on a draft opinion; circulation of change to unlabeled opinion
Action: Concurring Opinion Author's Response
May be response to a suggestion, the majority opinion, another separate opinion; it may say the author made changes and see the attached opinion; it may indicate the opinion has been changed although not prompted by someone else

Document 24

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 5th, 1975
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 25

From: Potter Stewart
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: None
On: June 5th, 1975
Action: Join Concurrence
Memos where a justice states that they join a concurring opinion, including joining a concurrence in part, joining a concurrence in judgment or result, or joining a concurrence at foot. The identity of the concurring opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.
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