Show / Hide Files

Watt V. Alaska (1980)

 

Document 1

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Potter Stewart, Thurgood Marshall
Copied: None
On: January 16th, 1981
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 J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: January 23rd, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion Assignment
This may be an assignment of either the majority opinion or a memorandum opinion; memo may state that a justice has agreed to undertake the opinion of the Court; memo reassigns the case

Document 3

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Thurgood Marshall
On: February 3rd, 1981
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 4

From: Potter Stewart
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Thurgood Marshall
On: February 3rd, 1981
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 5

From: Potter Stewart
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: March 26th, 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 6

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 26th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 7

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 27th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 8

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: March 27th, 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: Byron R. White
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: March 30th, 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 10

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: March 30th, 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 11

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: March 30th, 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: William H. Rehnquist
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: March 31st, 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 13

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: April 2nd, 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 14

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 2nd, 1981
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 15

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 3rd, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 16

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 6th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 17

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: April 7th, 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.