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Ins V. Lopez-mendoza (1983)

 

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens
On: April 30th, 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 2

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens
On: May 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 3

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: None
On: May 22nd, 1984
Action: Cover Memo to Majority Opinion or Per Curiam Opinion
This includes a cover memo to memorandum opinion if written by the assigned author; cover memo to changes to majority opinion

Document 4

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: None
On: May 29th, 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 5

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 1st, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 6

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
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 7

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
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 8

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 5th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 9

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
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 10

From: Byron R. White
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: June 5th, 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 11

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 12th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 12

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: June 12th, 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 13

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 14th, 1984
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 14

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 15th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 15

From: John Paul Stevens
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 16

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: June 15th, 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 17

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 18th, 1984
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 18

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 19th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 19

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: June 21st, 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 20

From: Byron R. White
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 21

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 1984
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 22

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 23

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: June 22nd, 1984
Action: Announcements of Opinion
This includes memos about the timing of a decision announcement (e.g., can we hold this case for a week; opinion should be handed down tomorrow; opinion not ready for case to come down; take as much time as you need); memos about the pace of opinion writing (e.g., a justice’s delay in a case or apologizing for a delay or holding up another justice); memo requesting that a justice make an announcement regarding an opinion

Document 24

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Sanda Day O'Connor
Copied: Conference
On: June 25th, 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 25

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 25th, 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

Document 26

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 25th, 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

Document 27

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 27th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 28

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 29th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 29

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: July 3rd, 1984
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 30

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: None
On: July 3rd, 1984
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 31

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: July 3rd, 1984
Action: Withdraw Join of Separate Opinion
This includes withdrawing joins of dissents and concurrences and withdrawing joins of part of a separate opinion. The identity of the separate opinion author whose opinion had previously been joined is located in the JOINED variable.
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: May Write Dissenting Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will likely) write a dissenting opinion (e.g., considering a dissent, expects to write dissent, will probably write dissent, may write dissent in part, inclined to dissent, shall likely be in dissent, may not write dissent, and hope not to write dissent)

Document 32

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Thurgood Marshall
Copied: None
On: July 3rd, 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