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Time, Inc. V. Firestone (1975)

 

Document 1

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: October 21st, 1975
Action: Majority Opinion Assignment
This may be an assignment of either the majority opinion or a memorandum opinion; memo may state that a justice has agreed to undertake the opinion of the Court; memo reassigns the case

Document 2

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 11th, 1975
Action: Memorandum Opinion
This refers to a memorandum opinion draft

Document 3

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 12th, 1975
Action: Cover Memo to Memorandum Opinion or Per Curiam Opinion (not assigned author)
Cover Memo to Memorandum Opinion or Per Curiam Opinion (not assigned author)

Document 4

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 12th, 1975
Action: Memorandum Opinion
This refers to a memorandum opinion draft

Document 5

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: December 13th, 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 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: Potter Stewart
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: December 15th, 1975
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 7

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 23rd, 1975
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 8

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 29th, 1975
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 9

From: Potter Stewart
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: December 29th, 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 10

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 30th, 1975
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 11

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: December 31st, 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 12

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 5th, 1976
Action: May Join Memorandum Opinion (Author is Assigned Justice)
Memo stating that the justice agrees, but does not join, the memorandum opinion drafted by the assigned opinion author (e.g., could go along with memorandum opinion; agrees generally with memorandum opinion; agree tentatively with memorandum opinion; will join memorandum opinion if it becomes majority opinion)
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 13

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 5th, 1976
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 14

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 6th, 1976
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 15

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 8th, 1976
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 16

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 3rd, 1976
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 17

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 4th, 1976
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 18

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 9th, 1976
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: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 18th, 1976
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 20

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 23rd, 1976
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 21

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 23rd, 1976
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 22

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 25th, 1976
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 23

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 25th, 1976
Action: Withdraw Concurring Opinion
This includes withdrawn concurrences in part, concurrence in judgment, and concurrence at foot

Document 24

From: Warren E. Burger
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: February 27th, 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.