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Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. V. Greenmoss Builders, Inc. (1983)

 

Document 1

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: October 13th, 1983
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 2

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: October 21st, 1983
Action: Memos about Cert Votes
A justice's cert vote (grant, deny, or note probable jurisdiction, join three); suggest they grant cert for specific issue; discussion of which questions cert grant should be limited to; adhere to cert vote; memo about cert petition (e.g., listing it on the conference list (special order list)); case should be relisted; make suggestions to proposed questions in case; any memo about listing or relisting a case

Document 3

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: March 26th, 1984
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 4

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: March 28th, 1984
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 5

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: March 28th, 1984
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 6

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 28th, 1984
Action: Memo Regarding Meeting Time, Place or Agenda
Memo may suggest that the justice talk or discuss an issue at conference; memo may maintain that no further conference discussion is needed; memo may state that a justice will be away

Document 7

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Lewis F. Powell, William H. Rehnquist
Copied: None
On: March 31st, 1984
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 8

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: None
On: April 6th, 1984
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 9

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 29th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 10

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: May 30th, 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 11

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 1st, 1984
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: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 1st, 1984
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: June 4th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 14

From: John Paul Stevens
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 4th, 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 15

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 5th, 1984
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: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 5th, 1984
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 17

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 15th, 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 18

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 15th, 1984
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 19

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: June 18th, 1984
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 20

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Byron R. White
Copied: None
On: June 18th, 1984
Action: Dissenting Opinion Author's Response
May be a response to a suggestion, majority opinion, or 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

Document 21

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 19th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 22

From: Warren E. Burger
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 19th, 1984
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 23

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: June 20th, 1984
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 24

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: William H. Rehnquist, Sanda Day O'Connor
On: June 20th, 1984
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
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 25

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: None
On: June 20th, 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 26

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: William H. Rehnquist, Sanda Day O'Connor
On: June 20th, 1984
Action: May Join Dissent
Memos where a justice expresses the inclination to join a dissenting opinion, including joining the dissent in part; memos may also state a justice’s intention to join a dissent if another justice writes or circulates one; memos may also state that a justice expects to join or tentatively joins a dissent
Action: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 27

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 21st, 1984
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 28

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 29

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 25th, 1984
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 30

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: June 25th, 1984
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 31

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 25th, 1984
Action: Case Should be Reargued
Includes statement that maybe case should be reargued

Document 32

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger, William H. Rehnquist, Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: None
On: June 25th, 1984
Action: Case Should be Reargued
Includes statement that maybe case should be reargued

Document 33

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: June 27th, 1984
Action: Memo about Supplemental or Amicus Briefs
Justice may express views on need for additional briefs (e.g., no need for supplemental briefs); justices may discuss proposed questions for supplemental briefs; justices may discuss oral arguments, reargument, or parties' briefs (e.g., date, length, exact questions that should be presented at orals or in briefs); justices may discuss asking litigants for additional information

Document 34

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: June 27th, 1984
Action: Memo about Supplemental or Amicus Briefs
Justice may express views on need for additional briefs (e.g., no need for supplemental briefs); justices may discuss proposed questions for supplemental briefs; justices may discuss oral arguments, reargument, or parties' briefs (e.g., date, length, exact questions that should be presented at orals or in briefs); justices may discuss asking litigants for additional information

Document 35

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 27th, 1984
Action: Memo about Supplemental or Amicus Briefs
Justice may express views on need for additional briefs (e.g., no need for supplemental briefs); justices may discuss proposed questions for supplemental briefs; justices may discuss oral arguments, reargument, or parties' briefs (e.g., date, length, exact questions that should be presented at orals or in briefs); justices may discuss asking litigants for additional information

Document 36

From: Byron R. White
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: June 28th, 1984
Action: Memo about Supplemental or Amicus Briefs
Justice may express views on need for additional briefs (e.g., no need for supplemental briefs); justices may discuss proposed questions for supplemental briefs; justices may discuss oral arguments, reargument, or parties' briefs (e.g., date, length, exact questions that should be presented at orals or in briefs); justices may discuss asking litigants for additional information

Document 37

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: Conference
On: July 2nd, 1984
Action: Memo about Supplemental or Amicus Briefs
Justice may express views on need for additional briefs (e.g., no need for supplemental briefs); justices may discuss proposed questions for supplemental briefs; justices may discuss oral arguments, reargument, or parties' briefs (e.g., date, length, exact questions that should be presented at orals or in briefs); justices may discuss asking litigants for additional information