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Gannett Co. V. Depasquale (1978)

 

Document 1

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 4th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 2

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 5th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 3

From: Potter Stewart
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: April 5th, 1979
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: Byron R. White
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: April 5th, 1979
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 5

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: April 5th, 1979
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 6

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: April 5th, 1979
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 7

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: April 9th, 1979
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: John Paul Stevens
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: April 18th, 1979
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.
Action: May Write Dissenting Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will likely) write a dissenting opinion (e.g., considering a dissent, expects to write dissent, will probably write dissent, may write dissent in part, inclined to dissent, shall likely be in dissent, may not write dissent, and hope not to write dissent)

Document 9

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 18th, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 10

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 19th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion Author's Response
May be response to a suggestion, reservation, or a separate opinion; may also say that author will respond to another opinion; may state majority opinion author's change to opinion that was not prompted by another justice; may indicate that the opinion is different from the conference discussion; may be a circulation of a portion of the opinion (a footnote, multiple pages without circulating the whole opinion); may be a suggestion from the majority opinion author regarding several options for changing majority opinion; may be a suggestion from the author for a change that could be made to opinion

Document 11

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 19th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion Author's Response
May be response to a suggestion, reservation, or a separate opinion; may also say that author will respond to another opinion; may state majority opinion author's change to opinion that was not prompted by another justice; may indicate that the opinion is different from the conference discussion; may be a circulation of a portion of the opinion (a footnote, multiple pages without circulating the whole opinion); may be a suggestion from the majority opinion author regarding several options for changing majority opinion; may be a suggestion from the author for a change that could be made to opinion

Document 12

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 19th, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 13

From: Byron R. White
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: April 20th, 1979
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: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 20th, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 15

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 20th, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 16

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 23rd, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 17

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 23rd, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 18

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 24th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 19

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 8th, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 20

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: May 9th, 1979
Action: Undecided
Justice states that he or she is undecided, including phrases like not ready to commit, need more time, not at rest, or to consider further

Document 21

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 15th, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 22

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: May 23rd, 1979
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 23

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 30th, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 24

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: May 31st, 1979
Action: Suggestion to Separate Opinion
Memo states includes a justice's suggestion for a separate opinion (e.g., don't agree with reasoning of separate opinion; comment on separate opinion; will join separate opinion if; cannot join separate opinion; will be making suggestion to separate opinion). The identity of the separate opinion author who receives suggestion is located in the JOINED variable.
Action: Suggestion before Majority Opinion Circulated
Justice makes a suggestion or lays out position in the case before the majority opinion is circulated; discussion of issues before an opinion has been drafted; memo laying out other justice's position or describing how other justices’ have voted so far in the case; lays out position without directing it at a circulating opinion

Document 25

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 1st, 1979
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 26

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 7th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion Author's Response
May be response to a suggestion, reservation, or a separate opinion; may also say that author will respond to another opinion; may state majority opinion author's change to opinion that was not prompted by another justice; may indicate that the opinion is different from the conference discussion; may be a circulation of a portion of the opinion (a footnote, multiple pages without circulating the whole opinion); may be a suggestion from the majority opinion author regarding several options for changing majority opinion; may be a suggestion from the author for a change that could be made to opinion

Document 27

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 7th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 28

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 7th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 29

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: June 12th, 1979
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.
Action: Will Write Concur in Part and Dissent in Part
A memo where a justice states that he or she will write and circulate an opinion that concurs in part and dissents in part; the concurrence could be in the judgment or result

Document 30

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 12th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 31

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 12th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 32

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 12th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 33

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 14th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 34

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: June 15th, 1979
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.
Action: Withdraw Dissenting Opinion
This includes withdrawn dissents in part and dissents at foot

Document 35

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William J. Brennan, Jr., Byron R. White, Thurgood Marshall
Copied: None
On: June 20th, 1979
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 36

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 20th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 37

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 20th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 38

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: None
On: June 20th, 1979
Action: Attached Material Relevant to a Case
This may include memos about maps or pictures that will be incorporated in opinion; cover memo to circulation of some relevant non-case material for an opinion (e.g., newspaper article, related lower court opinion); memos may mention extra-court material that might be relevant (e.g., congressional hearings, a statute, other opinions that are somehow (perhaps tangentially) related to case at hand); circulation of clerk’s memo about case

Document 39

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 20th, 1979
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

Document 40

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 21st, 1979
Action: Concur in Part and Dissent in Part
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in part and dissents in part, including opinions that concur in judgment and dissent (or dissent in part), concur in judgment in part and dissent (or dissent in part), or dissent in one docket and concurs in another docket

Document 41

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: June 21st, 1979
Action: Join Concur in Part and Dissent in Part
Memos where justices state that they join an opinion that concurs in part and dissents in part; alternatively, the opinion that is joined might concur in judgment and dissent. The identity of the opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 42

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 21st, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 43

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 25th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 44

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: June 25th, 1979
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 45

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: June 25th, 1979
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

Document 46

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 26th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft