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California V. Southland Royalty Co. (1977)

 

Document 1

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: December 12th, 1977
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 2

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 16th, 1978
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 3

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: February 21st, 1978
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 4

From: Byron R. White
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: February 27th, 1978
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 5

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 17th, 1978
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 6

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: March 20th, 1978
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: March 21st, 1978
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 8

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: March 23rd, 1978
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 9

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 24th, 1978
Action: Not Participating
These memos inform the Court whether a justice is "out" for a case; the memo may ask the opinion author to note the justice took no part in consideration of a case; memos may inform the Court that a justice is participating (e.g., not out; not recuse); memos may concern whether a justice should recuse himself or herself (e.g., may recuse self; have not decided whether to participate; do not think I should recuse); memos written by other justices about a colleague's recusal

Document 10

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 19th, 1978
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 11

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: May 22nd, 1978
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: Potter Stewart
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: May 22nd, 1978
Action: Not Participating
These memos inform the Court whether a justice is "out" for a case; the memo may ask the opinion author to note the justice took no part in consideration of a case; memos may inform the Court that a justice is participating (e.g., not out; not recuse); memos may concern whether a justice should recuse himself or herself (e.g., may recuse self; have not decided whether to participate; do not think I should recuse); memos written by other justices about a colleague's recusal

Document 13

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: May 22nd, 1978
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 14

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: May 23rd, 1978
Action: May Join Dissent
Memos where a justice expresses the inclination to join a dissenting opinion, including joining the dissent in part; memos may also state a justice’s intention to join a dissent if another justice writes or circulates one; memos may also state that a justice expects to join or tentatively joins a dissent

Document 15

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: May 24th, 1978
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 16

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: May 24th, 1978
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 17

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 24th, 1978
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 18

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 24th, 1978
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 19

From: Warren E. Burger
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: May 25th, 1978
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: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 26th, 1978
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 21

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 6th, 1978
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