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Spaziano V. Florida (1983)

 

Document 1

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 14th, 1983
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 2

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: December 14th, 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: Thurgood Marshall
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: December 14th, 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 4

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: December 19th, 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 5

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
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 6

From: John Paul Stevens
To: William J. Brennan, Jr., Thurgood Marshall
Copied: Conference
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 7

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 13th, 1984
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 8

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: June 13th, 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 9

From: Sanda Day O'Connor
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: June 13th, 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 10

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Byron R. White, William H. Rehnquist
Copied: Conference
On: June 15th, 1984
Action: Will Not Modify Majority Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will not change the majority opinion or will not circulate another draft of the majority opinion. This is not in response to a justice’s suggestion, which is coded 806.

Document 11

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: June 15th, 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.

Document 12

From: Byron R. White
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: June 15th, 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 13

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: June 18th, 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: Await Dissent
Justice indicates that he or she awaits a dissenting opinion, including opinions that dissent in part

Document 14

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: June 19th, 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 15

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Harry A. Blackmun
Copied: Conference
On: June 19th, 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 16

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 19th, 1984
Action: Concur in Part and Dissent in Part
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in part and dissents in part, including opinions that concur in judgment and dissent (or dissent in part), concur in judgment in part and dissent (or dissent in part), or dissent in one docket and concurs in another docket

Document 17

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 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 18

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 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 19

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 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 20

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 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 21

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 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 22

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 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 23

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 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 24

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 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 25

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 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: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 26th, 1984
Action: Concur in Part and Dissent in Part
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in part and dissents in part, including opinions that concur in judgment and dissent (or dissent in part), concur in judgment in part and dissent (or dissent in part), or dissent in one docket and concurs in another docket

Document 27

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: June 27th, 1984
Action: Join Concur in Part and Dissent in Part
Memos where justices state that they join an opinion that concurs in part and dissents in part; alternatively, the opinion that is joined might concur in judgment and dissent. The identity of the opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 28

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: John Paul Stevens
Copied: Conference
On: June 27th, 1984
Action: Join Concur in Part and Dissent in Part
Memos where justices state that they join an opinion that concurs in part and dissents in part; alternatively, the opinion that is joined might concur in judgment and dissent. The identity of the opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 29

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 27th, 1984
Action: Concur in Part and Dissent in Part
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in part and dissents in part, including opinions that concur in judgment and dissent (or dissent in part), concur in judgment in part and dissent (or dissent in part), or dissent in one docket and concurs in another docket

Document 30

From: John Paul Stevens
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 29th, 1984
Action: Concur in Part and Dissent in Part
This refers to an opinion draft that concurs in part and dissents in part, including opinions that concur in judgment and dissent (or dissent in part), concur in judgment in part and dissent (or dissent in part), or dissent in one docket and concurs in another docket