The Supreme Court Opinion Writing Database

Document 1

From: Byron R. White

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: May 14th, 1976

Action: Majority Opinion

This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 2

From: Thurgood Marshall

To: Byron R. White

Copied: Conference

On: May 14th, 1976

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 3

From: Potter Stewart

To: Byron R. White

Copied: Conference

On: May 17th, 1976

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 4

From: John Paul Stevens

To: Byron R. White

Copied: Conference

On: May 17th, 1976

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: William J. Brennan, Jr.

To: Byron R. White

Copied: Conference

On: May 17th, 1976

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: Byron R. White

Copied: Conference

On: May 18th, 1976

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 7

From: Byron R. White

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: May 19th, 1976

Action: Majority Opinion

This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 8

From: Harry A. Blackmun

To: Byron R. White

Copied: Conference

On: May 24th, 1976

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: Warren E. Burger

To: Byron R. White

Copied: Conference

On: June 2nd, 1976

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.