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American Tobacco Co. V. Patterson (1981)

 

Case Details

Docket Number: 80-1199
Case Term: 1981

Justices Involved

Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.
Justice Thurgood Marshall
Justice Harry A. Blackmun
Justice John Paul Stevens
Justice Byron R. White
Justice Sanda Day O'Connor
Justice Lewis F. Powell
Justice William H. Rehnquist
Justice Warren E. Burger

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Download Documents PDF

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall, Harry A. Blackmun, John Paul Stevens
Copied: None
On: January 25th, 1982
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 2

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 16th, 1982
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 3

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 16th, 1982
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 4

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 16th, 1982
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 5

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 17th, 1982
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: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 17th, 1982
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 7

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 17th, 1982
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: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 18th, 1982
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 9

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 22nd, 1982
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: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 22nd, 1982
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: John Paul Stevens
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 26th, 1982
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part
Action: May Write "Separate Opinion"
A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will probably) write a "separate opinion"

Document 12

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: March 8th, 1982
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 13

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 17th, 1982
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 14

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: March 18th, 1982
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: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: March 18th, 1982
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: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: March 18th, 1982
Action: Suggestion to Separate Opinion
Memo states includes a justice's suggestion for a separate opinion (e.g., don't agree with reasoning of separate opinion; comment on separate opinion; will join separate opinion if; cannot join separate opinion; will be making suggestion to separate opinion). The identity of the separate opinion author who receives suggestion is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 17

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 19th, 1982
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 18

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 23rd, 1982
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 19

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 24th, 1982
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 20

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 30th, 1982
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 21

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 31st, 1982
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 22

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 31st, 1982
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 23

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 1st, 1982
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form