Inside the Supreme Court

Petition to Decision

Papers of Supreme Court Justices on Civil Rights Cases

David Achtenberg

Professor & Law Foundation Scholar

UMKC School of Law

Kansas City, MO 64110-2499

816-235-2382

AchtenbergD@umkc.edu

Jett v. Dallas Independent School District

Timeline

          Coverage:  This page is a chronological timeline of the Court’s internal discussion and handling of Jett from the petitioner's earliest filings through the announcement of the decision in the case.  The timeline is divided into four sections which can be accessed through the buttons above or the ones in the yellow navigation area.

         Accessing Documents:  Each event is linked to all the documents in the Blackmun, Brennan, Marshall, and Powell files (as well as some documents from additional sources) that relate to that event.  To access a document, click on its link.  In the illustration below, you would click the link indicated by the red arrow to access the copy of Justice Powell's Opinion log that was found in his files.  (The links do not work on this illustration which is not from the Jett files.  To experiment, go to the timeline itself.) 

          Duplicate Documents:  When more than one copy of a document was found, I have included and linked all copies.  When a particular justice’s copy of a document contains additional annotations or markings, the link to that copy ends with an asterisk.   In the illustration above, the asterisks at the end of the circled entries indicate that both Justice Marshall and Justice Powell (or their clerks) made notes on their respective copies of the first draft of Justice Brennan's majority opinion.

          Abbreviations:  I have abbreviated the names of the justices, their clerks, and a few other persons.  A key to all abbreviations can be accessed by clicking the abbreviations button in the yellow navigation area. 

          Dates:  If the date of an event is unclear, estimated or derived, the date is underlined and the date is linked to an explanation. 

          Higher Resolution Copies:  Most of the documents are presented in comparatively small pdf files which should be adequate for most uses.  Please let me know if you think that any particular image needs to be replaced with a higher resolution version.  I will also be happy to send higher resolution copies (or original JPEGs) of any images to anyone who needs them.  For further information about how the documents were photographed, edited and converted to pdf files, click here to go to the Image Creation and Conversion Protocol Page. 

          Sources and Citation:  For an explanation of how to determine the original archive location of any document, click here to go to the Document Source Page.

		Jett Timeline—Part 1
		Deciding to Grant Review: First Filings to Grant of Certiorari (4/15/88-11/21/88)
				Documents
		Event	Date	HAB	WJB	TM	BRW	Other
		Petitioner Jett files motion for additional time to file petition	04-15-88					Docket-Jett
		BRW grants motion for additional time until 6/4/88	04-18-88					Docket-Jett
		Jett files further motion for additional time	05-18-88					Docket-Jett
		BRW grants motion for additional time until 6/14/88	05-19-88					Docket-Jett
		Jett files further motion for additional time	06-14-88					Docket-Jett
		BRW grants motion for additional time until 6/21/88	06-14-88					Docket-Jett
		Jett files Petition for Writ of Certiorari	06-21-88					Docket-Jett
								Petition-Jett
		Time for response extended to 8/20/88	07-18-88					Docket-Jett
		District files Cross-Petition for Writ of Certiorari	07-21-88					Docket-District
								Petition-District
		District files Brief in Opposition	08-18-88					Docket-Jett
								BIO-District
		Petition distributed to chambers for 9/26/88 conference	09-07-88					Docket-Jett
		Cross-Petition distributed to chambers for 9/26/88 conference	09-07-88					Docket-District
		JPS calls for a response to District's Cross Petition (due 10/15/88)	09-15-88					Docket-District
		EL circulates memo to pool re Petition recommending granting on Jett's 42 USC 1981 claim (that Monell analysis should not apply to 1981 claims), denying on Jett's 42 USC 1983 claim (that Monell was satisfied in this case), and calling for a response to the District's Cross-Petition.	09-16-88	Memo EL to Pool
		MET writes memo to TM recommending granting on both of Jett's issues	09-16-88			Memo MET to TM
		EL circulates memo to pool re Cross-Petition simply referring to his pool memo on the Petition.	09-19-88	Memo EL to Pool
		EL annotates his 9/16/88 pool memo for HAB and raises (but rejects) the possibility of holding the §1983 issue pending City of Canton.  Also suggests that his recommended call for response anticipates granting the District's Cross-Petition.	09-19-88	Memo EL to Pool
		EL annotates his 9/19/88 pool memo for HAB and suggests calling for a response in anticipation of granting the District's Cross-Petition.	09-19-88	Memo EL to Pool
		Jett files Brief in Opposition to Cross-Petition	10-14-88					Docket-District
								BIO-Jett
		Petition and Cross Petition redistributed to chambers for 11/4/88 conference.	10-19-88					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
		MET annotates her 9/16/88 memo indicating that Jett's Brief in Opposition to the Cross-Petition does not change her recommendation.	10-26-88			Memo MET to TM
		EPR writes memo to WJB recommending granting on all three issues or joining 3.	11-04-88		Memo EPR to WJB
		Case is discussed in conference and certiorari is granted limited to Question 1 in Jett's petition and is granted with respect to the District's Cross-Petition.  The two cases are consolidated for one hour of argument.  The vote is 6-3 to grant Jett's Petition.  It is 4-5 (per HAB and TM) or 5-4.(per WJB) to grant District's Cross-Petition.	11-04-88	HAB Docket (Vote Record)-Jett	WJB Docket (Vote Record)-Jett	TM Docket (Vote Record)-Jett		Docket-Jett
				HAB Docket (Vote Record)-District	WJB Docket (Vote Record)-District	TM Docket (Vote Record)-District		Docket-District
					Memo EPR to WJB
		Order granting certiorari issued.	11-07-88	HAB Docket (Vote Record)-Jett	WJB Docket (Vote Record)-Jett	TM Docket (Vote Record)-Jett		Docket-Jett
				HAB Docket (Vote Record)-District	WJB Docket (Vote Record)-District	TM Docket (Vote Record)-District		Docket-District
		Court orders that Jett will file the opening brief and the District will file the closing brief in both cases.	11-21-88					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
		Jett  Timeline—Part 2
		Briefing, Argument & Decision on the Merits (12/1/88-3/31/89)
				Documents
		Event	Date	HAB	WJB	TM	BRW	Other
		Record filed in both cases	12-01-88					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
		Court extends Jett's time to file brief on the merits to 1/4/89	12-01-88					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
		Brief of Petition/Respondent Jett filed	01-04-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
								Petitioner Brief
		Brief of Amici NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund  et al. filed	01-04-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
								LDF Brief
		Brief of Amicus National Education Association filed	01-04-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
								NEA  Brief
		Joint Appendix Filed	01-04-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District Joint Appendix
		Cases set for oral argument on 3/28/89	02-03-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
		Brief of Respondent/Petitioner District filed	02-03-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
								Respondent  Brief
		Brief of Amici International City Managers Association et al. filed	02-03-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
								ICMA Brief
		Briefs circulated to chambers	02-21-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
		Reply Brief of Petition/Respondent Jett filed	03-06-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
								Reply  Brief
		EBF writes bench memo to HAB.  EBF recommends that HAB vote reverse on the first claim (holding that the Monell standard should not apply to § 1981 claims) and remand on the second claim for application of the Praprotnik standard to Jett's 1983 claims.	03-25-89	Memo EBF to HAB
				Oral Argument Questions
		HAB prepares handwritten pre-argument notes indicating he intends to rule for Jett on § 1981 claim on the basis that respondeat superior applies to such claims without regard to Monell.  He indicates that he wants to apply the Praprotnik standard to Jett's § 1983 claim	03-26-89	HAB Pre-Argument Notes
				Transcript
		LH writes pre-argument memo to WJB.  LH recommends that WJB vote reverse on the first claim (holding that the Monell standard should not apply to § 1981 claims) and to affirm on the second claim in order to permit the lower courts to apply the Praprotnik standard to Jett's 1983 claims.	03-26-89		Memo LH to WJB
		Case is argued	03-28-89					Docket-Jett
				HAB Argument Notes				Docket-District
				Transcript				Oral Argument Transcript & Audio
		WJB prepares typed remarks on Jett for delivery at the conference	03-30-89		WJB Notes for Conference
		Case discussed in conference.  Court votes 5-4 to affirm on § 1981 issue and 9-0 to affirm on District's Cross-Petition re § 1983 issue.	03-31-89	HAB Conference Notes	WJB Conference Notes	TM Conference Notes -Jett
				Transcript	Transcript	Transcript
						TM Conference Notes -District
				HAB Docket (Vote Record)-Jett	WJB Docket (Vote Record)-Jett	TM Docket (Vote Record)-Jett
				HAB Docket (Vote Record)-District	WJB Docket (Vote Record)-District	TM Docket (Vote Record)-District
		WJB writes TM, HAB, & JPS stating that he will write the dissent	03-31-89	Memo WJB to TM, HAB & JPS	Memo WJB to TM, HAB & JPS	Memo WJB to TM, HAB & JPS
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		Jett Timeline—Part 3
		Drafting the Opinions: From First Drafts to Final Opinions (5/22/89-6/22/89)
				Documents
		Event	Date	HAB	WJB	TM	BRW	Other
		SDO circulates 1st Draft Opinion	05-22-89		SDO 1st Draft*	SDO 1st Draft*	SDO 1st Draft*
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		TM annotates SDO 1st Draft indicating he will await the dissent	05-23-89			SDO 1st Draft*
		BRW annotates SDO draft indicating he will join.	05-23-89				SDO 1st Draft*
		BRW writes SDO indicating he will join SDO 1st Draft	05-24-89	Memo BRW to SDO	Memo BRW to SDO	Memo BRW to SDO	Memo BRW to SDO
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		JPS writes SDO indicating he will await the dissent	05-24-89	Memo JPS to SDO	Memo JPS to SDO	Memo JPS to SDO	Memo JPS to SDO
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		TM writes SDO indicating he will await the dissent	05-24-89	Memo TM to SDO	Memo TM to SDO	Memo TM to SDO	Memo TM to SDO
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		WHR writes SDO indicating he will join SDO 1st Draft	05-24-89	Memo WHR to SDO	Memo WHR to SDO	Memo WHR to SDO	Memo WHR to SDO
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		WJB writes SDO indicating that he will write a dissent	05-25-13	Memo WJB to SDO	Memo WJB to SDO	Memo WJB to SDO	Memo WJB to SDO
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		EL writes memo to HAB recommending that HAB await dissent	05-25-89	Memo EL to HAB
		SDO circulates 2nd Draft Opinion	05-25-89		SDO 2d Draft	SDO 2d Draft	SDO 2d Draft
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		AMK writes SDO indicating he wil join SDO 2nd Draft	05-30-89	Memo AMK to SDO	Memo AMK to SDO	Memo AMK to SDO	Memo AMK to SDO
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		AGS circulates 1st Draft Concurrence	05-30-89	AGS 1st Draft*	AGS 1st Draft	AGS 1st Draft	AGS 1st Draft
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		Court meets to discuss anticipated dates to hand down opinions in the remaining cases.  WHR circulates memo to conference listing the cases--including Jett--expected to be handed down the week of June 12.	06-01-89		Memo WHR to Conf
		SDO circulates 3rd Draft Opinion	06-07-89	SDO 3d Draft	SDO 3d Draft	SDO 3d Draft	SDO 3d Draft
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		WHR circulates memo to conference listing case to be handed down on the week of June 12.	06-07-89		Memo WHR to Conf
		WJB annotates WHR 6/7/89 memo indicating that someone (probably WJB himself) will "need [a] few days."	06-07-89		Memo WHR to Conf
		WHR circulates memo to conference listing cases to be handed down the weeks of June 19 and June 26.  Jett is listed to be handed down the week of June 19.	06-08-89		Memo WHR to Conf
		WJB circulates 1st Draft Dissent	06-20-89	WJB 1st Draft	WJB 1st Draft	WJB 1st Draft*	WJB 1st Draft
				HAB Opinion Log	WJB Opinion Log
		TM annotates WJB Draft Dissent indicating he will join.	06-20-89			WJB 1st Draft*
		TM writes WJB indicating he will join dissent	06-20-89	Memo TM to WJB	Memo TM to WJB	Memo TM to WJB	Memo TM to WJB
				HAB Opinion Log
		JPS writes WJB indicating he will join WJB's dissent.  On the copy sent to WJB (but not on other copies) he adds a postscript asking that WJB modify one sentence to avoid describing an aspect of the Court's decision as "foolhardy."	06-20-89	Memo JPS to WJB	Memo JPS to WJB*	Memo JPS to WJB	Memo JPS to WJB
				HAB Opinion Log
		JPS circulates 1st Draft dissent	06-20-89	JPS 1st Draft	JPS 1st Draft*	JPS 1st Draft
				HAB Opinion Log
		SDO circulates memo to conference re cases held for Jett.	06-20-89	Memo SDO to Conf	Memo SDO to Conf
		EL writes memo to HAB recommending that HAB join WJB's dissent	06-20-89	Memo EL to HAB
		HAB writes WJB indicating he will join WJB's dissent	06-21-89	Memo HAB to WJB	Memo HAB to WJB	Memo HAB to WJB	Memo HAB to WJB
				HAB Opinion Log
		WJB circulates 2nd Draft Dissent	06-21-89		WJB 2d Draft	WJB 2d Draft	WJB 2d Draft
				HAB Opinion Log
		JPS circulates 2nd Draft Dissent	06-21-89		JPS 2d Draft	JPS 2d Draft	JPS 2d Draft
				HAB Opinion Log
		SDO circulates 4th Draft Opinion	06-21-89		SDO 4th Draft	SDO 4th Draft	SDO 4th Draft
				HAB Opinion Log
		WJB circulates 3rd Draft Dissent	06-21-89			WJB 3d Draft	WJB 3d Draft
				HAB Opinion Log
		Opinion announced	06-22-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
		Jett  Timeline—Part 4
		After the Decision: Post-Decision Events  7/24/89-9/11/89)
				Documents
		Event	Date	HAB	WJB	TM	BRW	Other
		Judgment issued	07-24-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District
		Record returned to Fifth Circuit	09-11-89					Docket-Jett
								Docket-District