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Steagald V. United States (1980)

 

Document 1

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 26th, 1981
Action: Propose Disposition in Case (Vote in a Case)
DIG (dismiss cert as improvidently granted); want to reach merits instead of DIG; would not DIG; affirm; reverse; remand; vacate; moot; court lacks jurisdiction; conference vote; withhold vote for now; defer vote; adhere to conference vote; initial vote in case; change conference vote; memo asking how others' vote on disposition

Document 2

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 11th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 3

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: March 12th, 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 4

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: March 12th, 1981
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 5

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: March 16th, 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: Potter Stewart
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: March 16th, 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 7

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: March 16th, 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: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Thurgood Marshall
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 9

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 15th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 10

From: Byron R. White
To: William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: April 15th, 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 11

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 16th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 12

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: April 16th, 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: Warren E. Burger
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: April 17th, 1981
Action: Join Judgment of Court
Memos where a justice states that they join the judgment or result of the Court or where they join part of the judgment

Document 14

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 20th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 15

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 24th, 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

Document 16

From: Byron R. White
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
On: May 15th, 1981
Action: Post-Announcement Opinion Changes
This refers to memos about changing an opinion that has been announced; it may be from the opinion author or another justice