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Michigan V. Long (1982)

 

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall, Harry A. Blackmun, John Paul Stevens
Copied: None
On: March 7th, 1983
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: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens
On: March 7th, 1983
Action: Will Not Write Dissent
A memo where a justice states that he or she will not write a dissenting opinion or an opinion that dissents in part

Document 3

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens
On: March 8th, 1983
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 4

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: March 15th, 1983
Action: Will Not Write Dissent
A memo where a justice states that he or she will not write a dissenting opinion or an opinion that dissents in part

Document 5

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens
Copied: None
On: March 16th, 1983
Action: Await Majority Opinion
Justice says they await writing of majority opinion

Document 6

From: John Paul Stevens
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Thurgood Marshall
On: March 18th, 1983
Action: Await Majority Opinion
Justice says they await writing of majority opinion

Document 7

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: None
On: May 16th, 1983
Action: Suggestion to Majority Opinion
This includes memo with broad statements including that a justice cannot join the opinion, cannot join a part of the opinion, does not agree with the opinion, or has continuing doubts with the opinion; memos that indicate that the author's change is not enough; memos that make suggestions for specific changes to majority opinion or that express reservations about some aspect of the majority opinion; this code is also given for suggestions to memorandum opinions by an assigned author

Document 8

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: May 17th, 1983
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: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: May 17th, 1983
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: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 17th, 1983
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 11

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: May 26th, 1983
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 12

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: May 27th, 1983
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 13

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 31st, 1983
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 14

From: Byron R. White
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: June 1st, 1983
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 15

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: June 1st, 1983
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: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 1983
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)
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 17

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 23rd, 1983
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 18

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 23rd, 1983
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 19

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 23rd, 1983
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: June 24th, 1983
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 21

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 28th, 1983
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 22

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: June 28th, 1983
Action: May Join Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice states the intent to join the majority opinion later (e.g., may join majority; will probably join majority; could join majority; agree tentatively; inclined to join; close to joining; agrees generally; agree with most of opinion; in basic agreement; intend to join; am prepared to join; expect to join; expect to join part of majority opinion; join unless someone else dissents; will join majority opinion if no majority exists; join unless someone else persuades me

Document 23

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 29th, 1983
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 24

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 29th, 1983
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 25

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 29th, 1983
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft