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Rhode Island V. Innis (1979)

 

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Thurgood Marshall
On: November 13th, 1979
Action: Dissent Opinion Assignment
The memo may ask another justice to write a dissent; a justice may indicate that the dissent will not be assigned right now; memo responding to a dissent assignment (but not accepting assignment, which would be Code 204)

Document 2

From: John Paul Stevens
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Thurgood Marshall
On: November 13th, 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 3

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 21st, 1979
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 4

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: December 26th, 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: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: December 27th, 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: William H. Rehnquist
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: December 28th, 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: Byron R. White
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: January 2nd, 1980
Action: Concur at Foot
This refers to a letter where a justice asks that a concurrence (or a concurrence in part) be noted at the foot of an opinion

Document 8

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: January 3rd, 1980
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 9

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 5th, 1980
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 10

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: January 31st, 1980
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 11

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 1st, 1980
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 12

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: February 1st, 1980
Action: Withdraw Join of Majority Opinion
This includes withdrawing joins of a per curiam opinion written by the assigned opinion author and withdrawing joins of part of a majority opinion
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
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 13

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: February 1st, 1980
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 14

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 4th, 1980
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: March 7th, 1980
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 16

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 11th, 1980
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: March 13th, 1980
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 18

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 14th, 1980
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 19

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 17th, 1980
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 20

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 28th, 1980
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 21

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 29th, 1980
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 22

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: None
On: April 29th, 1980
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 23

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: April 30th, 1980
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 24

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 6th, 1980
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 25

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 12th, 1980
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