The Supreme Court Opinion Writing Database

Document 1

From: William O. Douglas

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: January 12th, 1972

Action: Unlabeled Opinion

This refers to an opinion draft that is not labeled as a dissent, concurrence, or memorandum

Document 2

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.

To: William O. Douglas

Copied: Conference

On: January 13th, 1972

Action: Dissent at Foot

This refers to a letter where a justice asks that a dissent (or a dissent in part) be noted at the foot of an opinion; it also includes at foot opinions that indicates the justice wants the Court to hear arguments and decide rather than dismiss or decide summarily

Document 3

From: William O. Douglas

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: January 14th, 1972

Action: Unlabeled Opinion

This refers to an opinion draft that is not labeled as a dissent, concurrence, or memorandum

Document 4

From: William O. Douglas

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: January 15th, 1972

Action: Unlabeled Opinion

This refers to an opinion draft that is not labeled as a dissent, concurrence, or memorandum

Document 5

From: Byron R. White

To: William O. Douglas

Copied: Conference

On: January 15th, 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 6

From: Potter Stewart

To: William O. Douglas

Copied: Conference

On: January 17th, 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 O. Douglas

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: January 18th, 1972

Action: Unlabeled Opinion

This refers to an opinion draft that is not labeled as a dissent, concurrence, or memorandum

Document 8

From: Harry A. Blackmun

To: William O. Douglas

Copied: Conference

On: January 18th, 1972

Action: Dissent at Foot

This refers to a letter where a justice asks that a dissent (or a dissent in part) be noted at the foot of an opinion; it also includes at foot opinions that indicates the justice wants the Court to hear arguments and decide rather than dismiss or decide summarily

Document 9

From: William H. Rehnquist

To: William O. Douglas

Copied: Conference

On: January 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 10

From: William O. Douglas

To: Conference

Copied: None

On: January 19th, 1972

Action: Unlabeled Opinion

This refers to an opinion draft that is not labeled as a dissent, concurrence, or memorandum

Document 11

From: Warren E. Burger

To: William O. Douglas

Copied: Conference

On: January 21st, 1972

Action: Dissent at Foot

This refers to a letter where a justice asks that a dissent (or a dissent in part) be noted at the foot of an opinion; it also includes at foot opinions that indicates the justice wants the Court to hear arguments and decide rather than dismiss or decide summarily

Action: Will Not Write Dissent

A memo where a justice states that he or she will not write a dissenting opinion or an opinion that dissents in part