Show / Hide Files

United States V. Watson (1975)

 

Document 1

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: November 12th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 2

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: November 13th, 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: Potter Stewart
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: November 13th, 1975
Action: Will Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a concurring opinion draft, including that a concurring opinion will be out soon or that a revised draft of the concurring opinion will be circulated; this may also apply to opinions that concur in part or concur in the judgment or result

Document 4

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: November 13th, 1975
Action: Will Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a concurring opinion draft, including that a concurring opinion will be out soon or that a revised draft of the concurring opinion will be circulated; this may also apply to opinions that concur in part or concur in the judgment or result

Document 5

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: November 14th, 1975
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 6

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: November 17th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 7

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: November 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.

Document 8

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: November 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.

Document 9

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: November 21st, 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: Lewis F. Powell
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: November 25th, 1975
Action: May Join Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice states the intent to join the majority opinion later (e.g., may join majority; will probably join majority; could join majority; agree tentatively; inclined to join; close to joining; agrees generally; agree with most of opinion; in basic agreement; intend to join; am prepared to join; expect to join; expect to join part of majority opinion; join unless someone else dissents; will join majority opinion if no majority exists; join unless someone else persuades me
Action: Will Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a concurring opinion draft, including that a concurring opinion will be out soon or that a revised draft of the concurring opinion will be circulated; this may also apply to opinions that concur in part or concur in the judgment or result

Document 11

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: November 26th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 12

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 1st, 1975
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 13

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 3rd, 1975
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 14

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 5th, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 15

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 16th, 1976
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 16

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: January 19th, 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 17

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 20th, 1976
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 18

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 20th, 1976
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 19

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 22nd, 1976
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 20

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 23rd, 1976
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