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Sumner V. Mata (1980)

 

Document 1

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 8th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 2

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: January 8th, 1981
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: Thurgood Marshall
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: January 9th, 1981
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 4

From: Potter Stewart
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: January 9th, 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 5

From: Byron R. White
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: January 9th, 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 6

From: John Paul Stevens
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: January 12th, 1981
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part
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 7

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: January 13th, 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 8

From: Warren E. Burger
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: January 13th, 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 9

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 13th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 10

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 14th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 11

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: January 14th, 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 12

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: January 15th, 1981
Action: Concur in Judgment at Foot
This refers to a letter where a justice asks that a concurrence in judgment or the result be noted at the foot of an opinion, including a concur in judgment or result in part at foot

Document 13

From: John Paul Stevens
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: January 15th, 1981
Action: May Join Dissent
Memos where a justice expresses the inclination to join a dissenting opinion, including joining the dissent in part; memos may also state a justice’s intention to join a dissent if another justice writes or circulates one; memos may also state that a justice expects to join or tentatively joins a dissent
Action: Will Dissent If...
Justice states conditions for a dissent, including a dissent in part; memo may also state conditions for withdrawing a dissenting opinion

Document 14

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 16th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 15

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

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 16th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 17

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 19th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 18

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 19th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft