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Texaco, Inc. V. Short (1981)

 

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White, Thurgood Marshall, Lewis F. Powell
Copied: None
On: October 13th, 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 2

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 10th, 1981
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 3

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: December 10th, 1981
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 4

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: December 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 5

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: December 14th, 1981
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 6

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: December 15th, 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: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 28th, 1981
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 8

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: December 31st, 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 9

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 1st, 1982
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 10

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 4th, 1982
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 11

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: January 4th, 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 12

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: January 5th, 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 13

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: None
On: January 5th, 1982
Action: Change is Acceptable
Memo indicating that a change to majority opinion is acceptable to a justice (e.g., suggested change is ok with me; like changes in majority opinion).
Action: Join Majority If...
Justice sends memo to majority opinion author that states that the conditions under which the justice can or will not join the majority opinion; this includes memos with language like will join if..., will join the majority opinion if author makes changes suggested by another justice, or will join part of majority opinion if...; these memos may also state that a justice cannot join majority opinion if..., or could not join an opinion with a particular point, will withdraw join if...

Document 14

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 6th, 1982
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 15

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: January 7th, 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 16

From: Warren E. Burger
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: January 7th, 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 17

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 11th, 1982
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