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Barry V. Barchi (1978)

 

Document 1

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: None provided.
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 2

From: Warren E. Burger
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: November 14th, 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: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 21st, 1978
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 4

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: December 26th, 1978
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 5

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: December 26th, 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: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: January 2nd, 1979
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 7

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: January 3rd, 1979
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 8

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 4th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 9

From: Potter Stewart
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
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 10

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: February 7th, 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 11

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: February 8th, 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: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: February 9th, 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 13

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 12th, 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 14

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 14th, 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 15

From: Potter Stewart
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: February 14th, 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 16

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 15th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 17

From: John Paul Stevens
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: February 16th, 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 18

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: None
On: February 26th, 1979
Action: Memo Regarding Meeting Time, Place or Agenda
Memo may suggest that the justice talk or discuss an issue at conference; memo may maintain that no further conference discussion is needed; memo may state that a justice will be away

Document 19

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: March 1st, 1979
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 20

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: March 2nd, 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.

Document 21

From: John Paul Stevens
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Potter Stewart, Thurgood Marshall
On: March 14th, 1979
Action: Change is Acceptable
Memo indicating that a change to majority opinion is acceptable to a justice (e.g., suggested change is ok with me; like changes in majority opinion).

Document 22

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Potter Stewart, John Paul Stevens
On: March 14th, 1979
Action: Change is Acceptable
Memo indicating that a change to majority opinion is acceptable to a justice (e.g., suggested change is ok with me; like changes in majority opinion).

Document 23

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Potter Stewart, Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens
Copied: None
On: March 14th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 24

From: Potter Stewart
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens
On: March 14th, 1979
Action: Agree with Opinion Author
Memo expresses justice's agreement with a majority opinion author's proposal, footnote, or proposed change; justice might state that he or she is open to the change

Document 25

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Potter Stewart, Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens
Copied: None
On: March 14th, 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 26

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White
Copied: None
On: March 15th, 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: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: March 17th, 1979
Action: Join Judgment of Court
Memos where a justice states that they join the judgment or result of the Court or where they join part of the judgment

Document 28

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: March 17th, 1979
Action: Announcements of Opinion
This includes memos about the timing of a decision announcement (e.g., can we hold this case for a week; opinion should be handed down tomorrow; opinion not ready for case to come down; take as much time as you need); memos about the pace of opinion writing (e.g., a justice’s delay in a case or apologizing for a delay or holding up another justice); memo requesting that a justice make an announcement regarding an opinion
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 29

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 20th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 30

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 27th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 31

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 28th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 32

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: None
On: March 29th, 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.

Document 33

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 6th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 34

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: April 9th, 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 35

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: April 9th, 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 36

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: April 10th, 1979
Action: Join Majority If...
Justice sends memo to majority opinion author that states that the conditions under which the justice can or will not join the majority opinion; this includes memos with language like will join if..., will join the majority opinion if author makes changes suggested by another justice, or will join part of majority opinion if...; these memos may also state that a justice cannot join majority opinion if..., or could not join an opinion with a particular point, will withdraw join if...
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 37

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: April 23rd, 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 38

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 7th, 1979
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 39

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 8th, 1979
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

Document 40

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Harry A. Blackmun, Lewis F. Powell, William H. Rehnquist
On: June 8th, 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.

Document 41

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 8th, 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 42

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Harry A. Blackmun, William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: June 12th, 1979
Action: May Join Concurrence
Memos where a justice expresses the inclination to join a concurring opinion, including a concurrence in the judgment or result.

Document 43

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 13th, 1979
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 44

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 15th, 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 45

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 15th, 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 46

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 18th, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 47

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 18th, 1979
Action: Cover Memo to Majority Opinion or Per Curiam Opinion
This includes a cover memo to memorandum opinion if written by the assigned author; cover memo to changes to majority opinion

Document 48

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 19th, 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 49

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 19th, 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: 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 50

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 19th, 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 51

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 19th, 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 52

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 19th, 1979
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 53

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 20th, 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 54

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 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 55

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 20th, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 56

From: Potter Stewart
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 21st, 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 57

From: Byron R. White
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: June 21st, 1979
Action: Will Not Modify Majority Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will not change the majority opinion or will not circulate another draft of the majority opinion. This is not in response to a justice’s suggestion, which is coded 806.
Action: Announcements of Opinion
This includes memos about the timing of a decision announcement (e.g., can we hold this case for a week; opinion should be handed down tomorrow; opinion not ready for case to come down; take as much time as you need); memos about the pace of opinion writing (e.g., a justice’s delay in a case or apologizing for a delay or holding up another justice); memo requesting that a justice make an announcement regarding an opinion

Document 58

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 1979
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 59

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 60

From: John Paul Stevens
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 30th, 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.