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California Medical Association V. Federal Election Commission (1980)

 

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: January 27th, 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 2

From: Potter Stewart
To: Lewis F. Powell, William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: January 27th, 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: Lewis F. Powell
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: William H. Rehnquist
On: January 28th, 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: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 5th, 1981
Action: Suggestion before Majority Opinion Circulated
Justice makes a suggestion or lays out position in the case before the majority opinion is circulated; discussion of issues before an opinion has been drafted; memo laying out other justice's position or describing how other justices’ have voted so far in the case; lays out position without directing it at a circulating opinion

Document 5

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 5th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 6

From: Potter Stewart
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: May 5th, 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 7

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 7th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 8

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: May 7th, 1981
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 9

From: Byron R. White
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: May 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 10

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: May 8th, 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: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: May 11th, 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 12

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 11th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 13

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: May 12th, 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 14

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: May 12th, 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: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 13th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 16

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 13th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 17

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 3rd, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 18

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 8th, 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 19

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 1981
Action: Concur in Judgment in Part
This refers to an opinion that concurs in part with the judgment or result or that concurs in the judgment and concur in part

Document 20

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 23rd, 1981
Action: Concur in Judgment in Part
This refers to an opinion that concurs in part with the judgment or result or that concurs in the judgment and concur in part

Document 21

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 29th, 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