Richmond Newspapers, Inc. V. Virginia (1979)

This refers to a majority opinion draft

This includes a cover memo to memorandum opinion if written by the assigned author; cover memo to changes to majority opinion

These memos inform the Court whether a justice is "out" for a case; the memo may ask the opinion author to note the justice took no part in consideration of a case; memos may inform the Court that a justice is participating (e.g., not out; not recuse); memos may concern whether a justice should recuse himself or herself (e.g., may recuse self; have not decided whether to participate; do not think I should recuse); memos written by other justices about a colleague's recusal

This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

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

A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will probably) write a "separate 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

This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

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.

A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a majority opinion draft, including that an opinion will be out soon or that the author will revise majority opinion without stating the changes

This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

This indicates a cover memo to any separate opinion, including concurring, dissenting, or any other type of separate opinion

This refers to a concurring opinion draft

This refers to a majority opinion draft

This includes a cover memo to memorandum opinion if written by the assigned author; cover memo to changes to majority 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

This refers to a concurring opinion draft

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.

This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

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

This refers to a concurring opinion draft

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

A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a majority opinion draft, including that an opinion will be out soon or that the author will revise majority opinion without stating the changes

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

This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

This refers to a concurring opinion draft

This refers to a concurring opinion draft

This refers to a majority opinion draft

This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form