Show / Hide Files

Michael M. V. Superior Court, Sonoma County (1980)

 

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White, Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens
Copied: None
On: November 17th, 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: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 9th, 1980
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 3

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 10th, 1980
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 4

From: Potter Stewart
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: December 11th, 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.
Action: May Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will likely) write a concurring opinion; this also applies to opinions that concur in part, concurrences in judgment, or concurrences at foot.

Document 5

From: Byron R. White
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: December 11th, 1980
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 6

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: December 11th, 1980
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 7

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: December 15th, 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: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: December 15th, 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: December 17th, 1980
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 10

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: December 17th, 1980
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part
Action: May Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will likely) write a concurring opinion; this also applies to opinions that concur in part, concurrences in judgment, or concurrences at foot.
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 11

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 19th, 1980
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 12

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: December 31st, 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: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 31st, 1980
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 14

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: January 5th, 1981
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 H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 7th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 16

From: Warren E. Burger
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: January 7th, 1981
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 17

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 12th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 18

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 15th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 19

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 3rd, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 20

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 4th, 1981
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 21

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 6th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 22

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 6th, 1981
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 23

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 20th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 24

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 20th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 25

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 1st, 1981
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