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Murel V. Baltimore City Criminal Court (1971)

 

Document 1

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: November 11th, 1971
Action: Per Curiam Opinion
This refers to a draft per curiam opinion

Document 2

From: Byron R. White
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: November 11th, 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 3

From: Potter Stewart
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: November 11th, 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 4

From: William O. Douglas
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: None
On: November 12th, 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.
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: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: November 15th, 1971
Action: Per Curiam Opinion
This refers to a draft per curiam opinion

Document 6

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: November 16th, 1971
Action: May Write "Separate Opinion"
A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will probably) write a "separate opinion"
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 7

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: November 16th, 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 8

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: November 17th, 1971
Action: Per Curiam Opinion
This refers to a draft per curiam opinion

Document 9

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: November 18th, 1971
Action: Per Curiam Opinion
This refers to a draft per curiam opinion

Document 10

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: November 29th, 1971
Action: Join Majority If...
Justice sends memo to majority opinion author that states that the conditions under which the justice can or will not join the majority opinion; this includes memos with language like will join if..., will join the majority opinion if author makes changes suggested by another justice, or will join part of majority opinion if...; these memos may also state that a justice cannot join majority opinion if..., or could not join an opinion with a particular point, will withdraw join if...
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: Will Concur If...
Justice states conditions for a concurrence, including a concurrence in part or concurrence in judgment; memo may also state conditions for withdrawing a concurring opinion

Document 11

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: November 30th, 1971
Action: Per Curiam Opinion
This refers to a draft per curiam opinion

Document 12

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 3rd, 1971
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 13

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 3rd, 1971
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

Document 14

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 7th, 1971
Action: Per Curiam Opinion
This refers to a draft per curiam opinion

Document 15

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 7th, 1971
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: Conference
Copied: None
On: December 9th, 1971
Action: Per Curiam Opinion
This refers to a draft per curiam opinion