The Supreme Court Opinion Writing Database

Document 1

From: Lewis F. Powell

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: May 18th, 1972

Action: Majority Opinion

This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 2

From: Potter Stewart

To: Lewis F. Powell

Copied: Conference

On: May 18th, 1972

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: William O. Douglas

To: Lewis F. Powell

Copied: Conference

On: May 19th, 1972

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: Thurgood Marshall

To: Lewis F. Powell

Copied: Conference

On: May 23rd, 1972

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 5

From: Byron R. White

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: June 13th, 1972

Action: Dissenting Opinion

This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 6

From: Warren E. Burger

To: Lewis F. Powell

Copied: Conference

On: June 13th, 1972

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: William J. Brennan, Jr.

To: Byron R. White

Copied: Conference

On: June 13th, 1972

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 8

From: Harry A. Blackmun

To: Byron R. White

Copied: Conference

On: June 14th, 1972

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 9

From: William H. Rehnquist

To: Lewis F. Powell

Copied: Conference

On: June 19th, 1972

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.