Show / Hide Files

Triangle Improvement Council V. Ritchie (1970)

 

Case Details

Docket Number: 712
Case Term: 1970

Justices Involved

Justice William O. Douglas
Justice Warren E. Burger
Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.
Justice Potter Stewart
Justice Hugo. L. Black
Justice John M. Harlan
Justice Thurgood Marshall
Justice Harry A. Blackmun

Download PDF
Download Documents PDF

Document 1

From: William O. Douglas
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: None
On: February 23rd, 1971
Action: Vote on a Motion (e.g., to vacate stay order, to deny an injunction)
Would deny stay; retain stay; suggest they not act on a motion or order; should vacate order; comment on when they should vote on the motion

Document 2

From: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 30th, 1971
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 3

From: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 31st, 1971
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 4

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: William O. Douglas
Copied: Conference
On: March 31st, 1971
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 5

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 1st, 1971
Action: Per Curiam Opinion
This refers to a draft per curiam opinion

Document 6

From: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 1st, 1971
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 7

From: Hugo. L. Black
To: William O. Douglas
Copied: Conference
On: April 1st, 1971
Action: Suggestion to Separate Opinion
Memo states includes a justice's suggestion for a separate opinion (e.g., don't agree with reasoning of separate opinion; comment on separate opinion; will join separate opinion if; cannot join separate opinion; will be making suggestion to separate opinion). The identity of the separate opinion author who receives suggestion is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 8

From: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 2nd, 1971
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 9

From: John M. Harlan
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: April 8th, 1971
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: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 9th, 1971
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 11

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William O. Douglas
Copied: Conference
On: April 9th, 1971
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 12

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: None
On: April 9th, 1971
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
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 13

From: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 3rd, 1971
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 14

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 13th, 1971
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 15

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 14th, 1971
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 16

From: William O. Douglas
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: None
On: May 17th, 1971
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