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Diamond V. Chakrabarty (1979)

 

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White, Thurgood Marshall, Lewis F. Powell
Copied: None
On: March 31st, 1980
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: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 8th, 1980
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 3

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 8th, 1980
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 4

From: Potter Stewart
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: May 9th, 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 5

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: May 10th, 1980
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: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: May 12th, 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 7

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: May 12th, 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 8

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: May 12th, 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 9

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: May 12th, 1980
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 10

From: Byron R. White
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: May 13th, 1980
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 11

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: May 14th, 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 12

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: May 28th, 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 13

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: May 28th, 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 14

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: May 28th, 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 15

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 28th, 1980
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 16

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: May 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 17

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 2nd, 1980
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 18

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 2nd, 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 19

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 3rd, 1980
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 20

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 11th, 1980
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 21

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 11th, 1980
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft