Show / Hide Files

Justices Of Boston Municipal Court V. Lydon (1983)

 

Case Details

Docket Number: 82-1479
Case Term: 1983

Justices Involved

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

Download PDF
Download Documents PDF

Document 1

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 12th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 2

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: January 13th, 1984
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 3

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: January 16th, 1984
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 4

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: January 16th, 1984
Action: Join Part of Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins part of a majority opinion or where a justice joins all but part "X" of the majority opinion
Action: Endorse Another Justice's Suggestion
Memos where a justice states agreement with another justice's suggestion to the majority opinion author (e.g., I am about where Justice X is, agree with Justice X's letter to you, I have no problem with Justice X's suggestion, agree with another justice's comment, is Justice X's suggestion ok with you). The identity of the justice whose suggestion is endorsed is located in the JOINED variable.
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
Action: Undecided
Justice states that he or she is undecided, including phrases like not ready to commit, need more time, not at rest, or to consider further

Document 5

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: January 16th, 1984
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: Lewis F. Powell
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: January 17th, 1984
Action: Join Part of Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins part of a majority opinion or where a justice joins all but part "X" of the majority opinion
Action: Disagree with Another Justice's Suggestion
Memo states that the justice disagrees with another justice's suggestion to the majority opinion author. The identity of the justice whose suggestion is countered is located in the JOINED variable.
Action: Endorse Another Justice's Suggestion
Memos where a justice states agreement with another justice's suggestion to the majority opinion author (e.g., I am about where Justice X is, agree with Justice X's letter to you, I have no problem with Justice X's suggestion, agree with another justice's comment, is Justice X's suggestion ok with you). The identity of the justice whose suggestion is endorsed is located in the JOINED variable.
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 7

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 1st, 1984
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 22nd, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 9

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 23rd, 1984
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 10

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: None
On: February 28th, 1984
Action: Cover Memo to Separate Opinion
This indicates a cover memo to any separate opinion, including concurring, dissenting, or any other type of separate opinion
Action: May Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will likely) write a concurring opinion; this also applies to opinions that concur in part, concurrences in judgment, or concurrences at foot.

Document 11

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 28th, 1984
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 12

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: None
On: February 28th, 1984
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 13

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: None
On: February 29th, 1984
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 14

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 29th, 1984
Action: Endorse Another Justice's Suggestion
Memos where a justice states agreement with another justice's suggestion to the majority opinion author (e.g., I am about where Justice X is, agree with Justice X's letter to you, I have no problem with Justice X's suggestion, agree with another justice's comment, is Justice X's suggestion ok with you). The identity of the justice whose suggestion is endorsed is located in the JOINED variable.
Action: Disagree with Another Justice's Suggestion
Memo states that the justice disagrees with another justice's suggestion to the majority opinion author. The identity of the justice whose suggestion is countered is located in the JOINED variable.
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: Lewis F. Powell
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: None
On: March 1st, 1984
Action: Concurring Opinion Author's Response
May be response to a suggestion, the majority opinion, another separate opinion; it may say the author made changes and see the attached opinion; it may indicate the opinion has been changed although not prompted by someone else
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 16

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 7th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 17

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 12th, 1984
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 18

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 14th, 1984
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 19

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 15th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 20

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 19th, 1984
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 21

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: March 20th, 1984
Action: Join Concurrence
Memos where a justice states that they join a concurring opinion, including joining a concurrence in part, joining a concurrence in judgment or result, or joining a concurrence at foot. The identity of the concurring opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 22

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 21st, 1984
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 23

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: March 26th, 1984
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 24

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 26th, 1984
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 25

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: March 29th, 1984
Action: Join Part of Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins part of a majority opinion or where a justice joins all but part "X" of the majority opinion
Action: Will Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a concurring opinion draft, including that a concurring opinion will be out soon or that a revised draft of the concurring opinion will be circulated; this may also apply to opinions that concur in part or concur in the judgment or result

Document 26

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 30th, 1984
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 27

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 3rd, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 28

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: April 5th, 1984
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 29

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: April 6th, 1984
Action: Join Part of Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins part of a majority opinion or where a justice joins all but part "X" of the majority opinion

Document 30

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 12th, 1984
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 31

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 13th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 32

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 13th, 1984
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 33

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: April 16th, 1984
Action: Join Concurrence
Memos where a justice states that they join a concurring opinion, including joining a concurrence in part, joining a concurrence in judgment or result, or joining a concurrence at foot. The identity of the concurring opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 34

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 16th, 1984
Action: Concur in Judgment
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in the judgment or result

Document 35

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 23rd, 1984
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