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United States V. Richardson (1973)

 

Document 1

From: William O. Douglas
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: December 19th, 1973
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 2

From: Potter Stewart
To: William O. Douglas
Copied: Conference
On: December 19th, 1973
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 3

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 29th, 1974
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 4

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 29th, 1974
Action: Cover Memo to Majority Opinion or Per Curiam Opinion
This includes a cover memo to memorandum opinion if written by the assigned author; cover memo to changes to majority opinion

Document 5

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: January 29th, 1974
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 6

From: William O. Douglas
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: January 30th, 1974
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: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 6th, 1974
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 8

From: Byron R. White
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: February 8th, 1974
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 9

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 9th, 1974
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 10

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 14th, 1974
Action: Majority Opinion Author's Response
May be response to a suggestion, reservation, or a separate opinion; may also say that author will respond to another opinion; may state majority opinion author's change to opinion that was not prompted by another justice; may indicate that the opinion is different from the conference discussion; may be a circulation of a portion of the opinion (a footnote, multiple pages without circulating the whole opinion); may be a suggestion from the majority opinion author regarding several options for changing majority opinion; may be a suggestion from the author for a change that could be made to opinion

Document 11

From: William O. Douglas
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: February 14th, 1974
Action: Disagrees with Opinion Author
Memo expresses a justice's disagreement with an opinion author's letter, proposal, or footnote
Action: Agree with Opinion Author
Memo expresses justice's agreement with a majority opinion author's proposal, footnote, or proposed change; justice might state that he or she is open to the change

Document 12

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: February 16th, 1974
Action: Undecided
Justice states that he or she is undecided, including phrases like not ready to commit, need more time, not at rest, or to consider further
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: Join Judgment of Court
Memos where a justice states that they join the judgment or result of the Court or where they join part of the judgment
Action: May Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she may (or will likely) write a concurring opinion; this also applies to opinions that concur in part, concurrences in judgment, or concurrences at foot.

Document 13

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: Potter Stewart
Copied: Conference
On: February 19th, 1974
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 14

From: William H. Rehnquist
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: February 19th, 1974
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 15

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 8th, 1974
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 16

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 12th, 1974
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 17

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: William J. Brennan, Jr.
Copied: Conference
On: March 13th, 1974
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 18

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Lewis F. Powell
Copied: None
On: March 14th, 1974
Action: Majority Opinion Author's Response
May be response to a suggestion, reservation, or a separate opinion; may also say that author will respond to another opinion; may state majority opinion author's change to opinion that was not prompted by another justice; may indicate that the opinion is different from the conference discussion; may be a circulation of a portion of the opinion (a footnote, multiple pages without circulating the whole opinion); may be a suggestion from the majority opinion author regarding several options for changing majority opinion; may be a suggestion from the author for a change that could be made to opinion

Document 19

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 1st, 1974
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 20

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: None
On: April 4th, 1974
Action: Will Write Concurring Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a concurring opinion draft, including that a concurring opinion will be out soon or that a revised draft of the concurring opinion will be circulated; this may also apply to opinions that concur in part or concur in the judgment or result
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 21

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: April 4th, 1974
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 22

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 21st, 1974
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 23

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 21st, 1974
Action: Cover Memo to Majority Opinion or Per Curiam Opinion
This includes a cover memo to memorandum opinion if written by the assigned author; cover memo to changes to majority opinion

Document 24

From: Byron R. White
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: May 29th, 1974
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 25

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 30th, 1974
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 26

From: Potter Stewart
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 31st, 1974
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 27

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 12th, 1974
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 28

From: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 13th, 1974
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 29

From: Lewis F. Powell
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 14th, 1974
Action: Concurring Opinion
This refers to a concurring opinion draft

Document 30

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: June 17th, 1974
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.