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Chapman V. Houston Welfare Rights Organization (1978)

 

Document 1

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 2nd, 1978
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 2

From: Potter Stewart
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: December 4th, 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 3

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: December 7th, 1978
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 4

From: Byron R. White
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: December 7th, 1978
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 "Separate Opinion"
A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a "separate opinion" draft, including that a "separate opinion" will be out soon or that a revised draft of the "separate opinion" will be circulated

Document 5

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: December 7th, 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 6

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 8th, 1978
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 7

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: December 11th, 1978
Action: Endorse Another Justice's Suggestion
Memos where a justice states agreement with another justice's suggestion to the majority opinion author (e.g., I am about where Justice X is, agree with Justice X's letter to you, I have no problem with Justice X's suggestion, agree with another justice's comment, is Justice X's suggestion ok with you). The identity of the justice whose suggestion is endorsed is located in the JOINED variable.
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: May Join Concurrence
Memos where a justice expresses the inclination to join a concurring opinion, including a concurrence in the judgment or result.
Action: Suggestion to Majority Opinion
This includes memo with broad statements including that a justice cannot join the opinion, cannot join a part of the opinion, does not agree with the opinion, or has continuing doubts with the opinion; memos that indicate that the author's change is not enough; memos that make suggestions for specific changes to majority opinion or that express reservations about some aspect of the majority opinion; this code is also given for suggestions to memorandum opinions by an assigned author

Document 8

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 13th, 1978
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 9

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: December 14th, 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 10

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: December 14th, 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 11

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 18th, 1978
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 12

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: January 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.

Document 13

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 9th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 14

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: January 10th, 1979
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 15

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: January 11th, 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 16

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 11th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 17

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: January 16th, 1979
Action: Endorse Another Justice's Suggestion
Memos where a justice states agreement with another justice's suggestion to the majority opinion author (e.g., I am about where Justice X is, agree with Justice X's letter to you, I have no problem with Justice X's suggestion, agree with another justice's comment, is Justice X's suggestion ok with you). The identity of the justice whose suggestion is endorsed is located in the JOINED variable.
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: May Join Concurrence
Memos where a justice expresses the inclination to join a concurring opinion, including a concurrence in the judgment or result.
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 18

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 17th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 19

From: Warren E. Burger
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: January 31st, 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 20

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 14th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 21

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 16th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 22

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: April 19th, 1979
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 23

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
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 24

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: John Paul Stevens
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 25

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 24th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 26

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 27th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 27

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 27th, 1979
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 28

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 30th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 29

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

Document 30

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 1st, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 31

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 2nd, 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 32

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: None
On: May 8th, 1979
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 33

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 9th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 34

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: May 10th, 1979
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.