The Supreme Court Opinion Writing Database

Document 1

From: Warren E. Burger

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: May 2nd, 1979

Action: Per Curiam Opinion

This refers to a draft per curiam opinion

Document 2

From: Harry A. Blackmun

To: Warren E. Burger

Copied: Conference

On: May 2nd, 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 3

From: Potter Stewart

To: Warren E. Burger

Copied: Conference

On: May 2nd, 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 4

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.

To: Warren E. Burger

Copied: Conference

On: May 2nd, 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 5

From: Lewis F. Powell

To: Warren E. Burger

Copied: Conference

On: May 3rd, 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 6

From: John Paul Stevens

To: Warren E. Burger

Copied: Conference

On: May 3rd, 1979

Action: Case Should be Reargued

Includes statement that maybe case should be reargued

Document 7

From: William H. Rehnquist

To: Warren E. Burger

Copied: Conference

On: May 3rd, 1979

Action: Propose Disposition in Case (Vote in a Case)

DIG (dismiss cert as improvidently granted); want to reach merits instead of DIG; would not DIG; affirm; reverse; remand; vacate; moot; court lacks jurisdiction; conference vote; withhold vote for now; defer vote; adhere to conference vote; initial vote in case; change conference vote; memo asking how others' vote on disposition

Document 8

From: Thurgood Marshall

To: Warren E. Burger

Copied: Conference

On: May 4th, 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.