nlrb sears roebuck argued january decided april procedure adjudicating unfair labor practice cases national labor relations act national labor relations board nlrb regional director unfair labor practice charges filed first instance nlrb general counsel delegated initial power decide whether issue complaint believes charge merit charging party right appeal general counsel right exercised file sent office appeals general counsel office appeals committee decides either sustain overrule regional director sets forth decision supporting reasons appeals memorandum cleared general counsel sent regional director must follow instructions addition appeals process general counsel requires regional director reaching initial decision connection unfair labor practice charges raising certain issues submit matter general counsel advice branch kinds unfair labor practice cases regional directors permitted seek advice branch advice advice branch studying matter makes recommendation general counsel makes final determination communicated regional director way advice memorandum depending upon conclusion reached memorandum regional director either file complaint notify complaining party decision proceed right appeal respondent general counsel declined disclose advice appeals memoranda pertaining certain matters issued within certain number years filed suit require disclosure memoranda alleging violations freedom information act district granted respondent motion summary judgment holding advice memoranda instructions staff affect member public required disclosed appeals memoranda final opinions required disclosed kinds memoranda exempt disclosure memorandums exemption appeals affirmed without opinion held exemption never apply final opinions invariably explain agency action already taken agency decision already made also constitute final dispositions matters agency pp exemption covers attorney rule clearly applies memoranda prepared attorney contemplation litigation setting forth attorney theory case litigation strategy pp advice appeals memoranda explain decisions general counsel file complaint final opinions made adjudication cases within meaning hence fall outside scope exemption must disclosed pp case decisions file complaint memoranda effects final disposition administrative decision disclosure memoranda intrude predecisional processes protecting improve quality agency decisions within purposes executive privilege embodied exemption since memoranda communicated regional director general counsel already reached decision regional director decision make bound dismiss charge moreover general counsel decisions file complaints together advice appeals memoranda explaining precisely kind agency law public vitally interested congress sought prevent agency keeping secret pp advice appeals memoranda explain decisions general counsel file complaint commence litigation nlrb final opinions made adjudication cases within meaning fall within scope exemption pp filing complaint finally dispose even general counsel responsibility respect case since case litigated decided nlrb general counsel responsible advocating charging party position nlrb since memoranda also prepared contemplation upcoming litigation fall squarely within exemption protection attorney work product time public interest disclosure substantially reduced fact basis general counsel decision file complaint develop course litigation nlrb law respect cases ultimately made general counsel nlrb courts pp documents incorporated reference nonexempt advice appeals memoranda lose exemption might previously held memoranda exemption agency chooses expressly adopt incorporate reference memorandum previously covered exemption otherwise final opinion memorandum may withheld ground covered exemption exemption petitioners required produce create explanatory material instances appeals memorandum refers circumstances case required identify fact documents contain circumstances case opinion may referred identified party seeking disclosure pp adjudicate petitioners claim advice appeals memoranda exempt disclosure exemption investigatory files compiled law enforcement purposes claim made district although made appeals affirmed without opinion basis prior decision another case involving exemption therefore clear whether passed claim moreover congress passed limiting amendment exemption petitioners filed brief thus decision exemption issue case made exemption amended done courts pp reach petitioners claim advice appeals memoranda exempt disclosure exemption documents related solely internal personnel rules practices agency claim raised petitioners claim documents incorporated reference advice appeals memoranda previously protected disclosure exemption lose exempt status reason incorporation merit since document protected exemption become disclosable solely referred final opinion accordingly case must remanded district determination whether documents protected exemption amended pp white delivered opinion douglas brennan stewart marshall blackmun rehnquist joined burger concurred judgment powell took part consideration decision case deputy solicitor general friedman argued cause petitioners briefs solicitor general bork allan abbot tuttle peter nash john irving patrick hardin norton come gerard smetana argued cause respondent brief lawrence cohen jeffrey goldman alan raywid briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed milton smith jerry kronenberg chamber commerce carol cowgill peter schuck marvin karpatkin melvin wulf american civil liberties union et al alan morrison freedom information clearinghouse justice white delivered opinion national labor relations board board general counsel seek set aside order district directing disclosure respondent sears roebuck sears pursuant freedom information act act certain memoranda known advice memoranda appeals memoranda related documents generated office general counsel course deciding whether permit filing board unfair labor practice complaints act background principal objectives described epa mink repeated sufficient note present purposes act seeks establish general philosophy full agency disclosure unless information exempted clearly delineated statutory language hereinafter epa mink supra act structured virtually every document generated agency available public one form another unless falls within one act nine exemptions certain documents described rules procedure must published federal register including final opinions made adjudication cases statements policy interpretations adopted agency instructions staff affect member public described must indexed made available member public demand hereinafter finally comprehensively identifiable records must made available member public demand act expressly however disclosure obligation apply documents described nine enumerated exempt categories listed sears claims courts ruled memoranda sought expressions legal policy decisions already adopted agency constitute final opinions instructions staff affect member public categories expressly disclosable act pursuant purposes prevent creation secret law event sears claims memoranda nonexempt identifiable records must disclosed general counsel hand claims memoranda sought final opinions even identifiable records otherwise disclosable exempt principally communications exemption made course formulating agency decisions legal policy matters crucial decision case understanding function documents issue context administrative process generated deal matter first et seq national labor relations act amended labor management relations act stat et process adjudicating unfair labor practice cases begins filing private party charge cfr auto workers scofield nlrb indiana michigan electric although congress designated board principal body adjudicates unfair labor practice case based charge board may adjudicate upon filing complaint congress delegated office general counsel behalf board unreviewable authority determine whether complaint shall filed vaca sipes cases decides complaint shall issue general counsel becomes advocate board support complaint cases decides issue complaint proceeding board occurs practical effect administrative scheme party believing victim unfair labor practice obtain neither adjudication remedy labor statute without first persuading office general counsel claim sufficiently meritorious warrant board consideration order structure considerable power administrative scheme gives general counsel adopted certain procedures processing unfair labor practice charges charges filed first instance one board regional directors general counsel delegated initial power decide whether issue complaint cfr member staff regional office conducts investigation charge may include interviewing witnesses reviewing documents cfr basis investigation regional director believes charge merit settlement attempted complaint issued charge merit regional director judgment charging party informed letter brief explanation reasons cfr case charging party also informed right appeal within days office general counsel washington cfr charging party exercises right entire file possession regional director sent office appeals general counsel office washington case assigned staff attorney office appeals prepares memorandum containing analysis factual legal issues case memorandum called agenda minute serves basis discussion meeting appeals committee includes director associate director office appeals point period charging party may make written presentation case right oral presentation discretion general counsel cfr oral presentation allowed subject unfair labor practice charge notified allowed similar separate opportunity make oral presentation event decision reached appeals committee decision reasons set forth memorandum called general counsel minute appeals memorandum document cleared general counsel case unusually complex important general counsel brought process earlier stage hand decision expression basis appeals memorandum either event appeals memorandum sent regional director follows instructions appeal rejected regional director decision issue complaint sustained separate document prepared sent general counsel letter form charging party briefly setting forth reasons denial appeal appeals memoranda whether sustaining overruling regional directors constitute one class documents issue case appeals process affords general counsel office washington opportunity formulate coherent policy achieve measure uniformity enforcing labor laws appeals process alone however wholly adequate purpose regional director initially decides file complaint appeal available regional director decides file complaint charging party may neglect appeal accordingly fair uniform administration act general counsel requires regional directors reaching initial decision connection charges raising certain issues specified general counsel submit matter general counsel advice branch also located washington yet kinds cases regional directors permitted seek counsel advice branch regional director seeks advice advice branch memorandum sets forth facts case statement issues advice sought recommendation case assigned staff attorney advice branch researches legal issues presented reading prior board decisions prior advice determinations similar related cases statement reports orally writing committee agenda made various members general counsel office committee recommendation arrived communicated general counsel together recommendation regional director dissenting views committee special cases general counsel may schedule special agendas invite staff members submit recommendations either event general counsel decide issue submitted final determination communicated regional director way advice memorandum memorandum briefly summarize facts background legal policy issue decided set forth general counsel answer legal policy issue submitted together detailed legal rationale contain instructions final processing case ibid depending upon conclusion reached memorandum regional director either file complaint send letter complaining party advising regional director decision proceed informing right appeal advice memoranda constitute class documents sears seeks disclosure case ii case arose following context letter dated july sears requested general counsel disclose pursuant act advice appeals memoranda issued within previous five years subjects propriety withdrawals employers unions bargaining disputes commencement date negotiations conflicting interpretations context board retail associates nlrb rule letter also sought index digest advice appeals memoranda letter urged disclosure theory advice appeals memoranda source agency law issues letter dated july general counsel declined sears disclosure request full letter stated advice memoranda simply guides regional director final exempt disclosure memoranda reflect thought processes general counsel staff exempt pursuant part investigative process letter said appeals memoranda indexed subject matter therefore general counsel unable comply sears request explanation decision respect appeals memoranda general counsel wrote sears august stated appeals memoranda ordered filing complaint final opinions letter stated appeals memoranda final opinions appeal denied directed complaint filed numbered several thousand general counsel view precedential significance accordingly disclosable disclosable relating identifiable records general counsel said sears failed adequately identify material sought justify expenditure time necessary agency identify august sears filed complaint pursuant act seeking declaration general counsel refusal disclose advice appeals memoranda indices thereof requested sears violated act injunction enjoining continued violations act august current general counsel took office order give time develop disclosure policy filing answer postponed february answer denied act required disclosure documents sought referred letter date general counsel informed sears make available index advice memoranda also advice appeals memoranda cases closed either litigation board completed decision file complaint become final stated however disclose memoranda open cases event delete names witnesses security sensitive matter memoranda disclose consider general counsel office bound pursue new policy instances future wholly satisfied voluntary disclosures offered made general counsel sears moved summary judgment general counsel likewise sears thus continued seek memoranda open cases moreover sears objected deletions memoranda closed cases asserted many appeals memoranda unintelligible incorporated reference documents disclosed also referred circumstances case set sears ignorant general counsel contended documents exempt disclosure memoranda within coverage documents incorporated reference exempt disclosure investigatory files pursuant parties also agree function advice memorandum sears claimed advice memoranda binding regional directors general counsel claimed noting fact regional director delegated power issue complaint district granted sears motion summary judgment denied general counsel found although general counsel delegated regional directors power file complaints advice memorandum constituted pro tanto withdrawal delegation power accordingly advice memoranda held constitute instructions staff affect member public expressly disclosable pursuant appeals memoranda held final opinions held memorandums protected since expressions point view disposition charge documents incorporated reference memoranda held lost whatever exempt status previously see american mail line gulick app concluded case proper one exercise injunctive powers act even though general counsel voluntarily disclosed material sought noted jurisdiction enjoin withholding documents prospectively addition ordering production documents already withheld referred fact general counsel office longstanding policy nondisclosure still maintained policy lawful current one partial disclosure changed referred fact disputes arisen deletions documents disclosed voluntarily accordingly ordered general counsel make available public appeals advice memoranda issued since july document expressly incorporated reference without apparently limiting order memoranda subject matter requested sears produce compile necessary indices memoranda produce explanatory material including existing documents instances memorandum refers circumstances case cease deleting names citations matter settlement suggestions memoranda without written justification decision affirmed without opinion appeals district columbia circuit basis decision grumman aircraft engineering renegotiation board app rev post granted certiorari cases set argument together consider important questions construction act relate documents generated agency decisionmaking processes iii clear general counsel concedes appeals advice memoranda least identifiable records must disclosed demand unless fall within one act exempt categories also clear memoranda fall within one act exempt categories inquiry end act apply documents thus inquiry strictly speaking must scope exemptions general counsel claims applicable principally exemption relating memorandums general counsel also concedes however hold reasons set forth exemption apply document falls within meaning phrase final opinion made adjudication cases general counsel argues therefore must advice appeals memorandum final opinion made adjudication case memoranda within coverage exemption bases argument large measure claims lack adjudicative authority true general counsel lacks authority finally adjudicate unfair labor practice claim favor claimant possess authority adjudicate claim claimant power decline file complaint board hold reasons fully set forth advice appeals memoranda explain decisions general counsel file complaint final opinions made adjudication case fall outside scope exemption advice appeals memoranda explain decisions general counsel file complaint commence litigation board final opinions made adjudication case fall within scope exemption parties apparent agreement exemption withholds member public documents private party discover litigation agency epa mink since virtually document privileged may discovered appropriate litigant relevant litigation since act clearly intended give member public much right disclosure one special interest therein sterling drug ftc app reasonable construe exemption exempt documents documents normally privileged civil discovery context privileges claimed petitioners relevant case generally recognized privilege confidential advisory opinions kaiser aluminum chemical cl supp reed disclosure injurious consultative functions government kaiser aluminum chemical supra epa mink supra sometimes referred executive privilege ii attorney privileges generally available litigants manifestly ultimate purpose privilege prevent injury quality agency decisions quality particular agency decision clearly affected communications received decisionmaker subject decision prior time decision made however difficult see quality decision affected communications respect decision occurring decision finally reached therefore equally difficult see quality decision affected forced disclosure communications long prior communications ingredients decisionmaking process disclosed accordingly lower courts uniformly drawn distinction predecisional communications privileged boeing airplane coggeshall app boeing sdny walled lake door ed zacher cert denied clark pearson supp dc communications made decision designed explain sterling drug ftc app gsa benson bannercraft clothing renegotiation board app rev grounds tennessean newspapers fha supra see also distinction supported lesser injury decisionmaking process flowing disclosure postdecisional communications also case communications explain decision increased public interest knowing basis agency policy already adopted public marginally concerned reasons supporting policy agency rejected reasons might supplied supply basis policy actually adopted different ground contrast public vitally concerned reasons supply basis agency policy actually adopted reasons expressed within agency constitute working law agency held lower courts outside protection exemption bannercraft clothing renegotiation board app cuneo schlesinger app cert denied sub nom rosen vaughn ash grove cement ftc supp aff part rev part app exemption properly construed calls disclosure opinions interpretations embody agency effective law policy withholding papers reflect agency group thinking process working policy determining law shall davis information act preliminary analysis chi rev note freedom information act exemption memoranda harv rev conclusion powerfully supported provisions act affirmative portion act expressly requiring indexing final opinions statements policy interpretations adopted agency instructions staff affect member public represents strong congressional aversion secret agency law davis supra represents affirmative congressional purpose require disclosure documents force effect law reluctant therefore construe exemption apply documents described respect least final opinions invariably explain agency action already taken agency decision already made also constitute final dispositions matters agency see infra hold exemption never apply ii applying principles memoranda sought sears becomes clear exemption apply appeals advice memoranda conclude complaint filed effect finally denying relief charging party exemption protect disclosure appeals advice memoranda direct filing complaint commencement litigation board advice branch directs regional director issue complaint regional director dismissal reversed appeal complaint subsequently issued subject matter theory interpretation ultimately ventilated course hearing trial examiner board decisions perhaps review adjudication courts remaining cases however general counsel either advice branch office appeals determines issuance complaint warranted determination constitutes final agency action precedential import committee believes precedents constitute precisely kinds final opinions statements policy interpretations instructions staff affect member public freedom information act contemplates indexed made available public aba labor relations law section essentially reasons memoranda final opinions made adjudication cases must indexed pursuant decision dismiss charge decision case constitutes adjudication adjudication defined administrative procedure act part agency process formulation order order defined whole part final disposition whether affirmative negative agency matter emphasis added dismissal charge noted final disposition since advice appeals memorandum explains reasons final disposition plainly qualifies opinion falls within conclusion consistent recent holding itt electrical workers board decisions proceedings proceedings final dispositions decision proceeding case finally decide anything analogous decision general counsel unfair labor practice complaint filed see infra page ii recognize advice appeals memorandum directing filing complaint although representing decision legal issue sufficiently doubt warrant determination another body many characteristics documents described although final opinion adjudication case effect final disposition memorandum explain decision already reached general counsel real operative effect permits litigation board indicated reluctance construe exemption protect documents supra case decisionmaker general counsel must become litigating party case respect made decision attorney policies congress clearly incorporated exemption thus come play lead us hold advice appeals memoranda directing filing complaint exempt whether district held instructions staff affect member public petitioners assert district erred holding documents incorporated reference nonexempt advice appeals memoranda lose exemption might previously held memoranda disagree probability agency employee inhibited freely advising decisionmaker fear advice adopted become public slight first adopted reasoning becomes agency becomes responsibility defend second agency employees generally encouraged rather discouraged public knowledge policy suggestions adopted agency moreover public interest knowing reasons policy actually adopted agency supports district decision thus hold agency chooses expressly adopt incorporate reference memorandum previously covered exemption otherwise final opinion memorandum may withheld ground falls within coverage exemption exemption petitioners also assert district order erroneously requires produce create explanatory material instances appeals memorandum refers circumstances case agree act compel agencies write opinions cases otherwise required requires disclosure certain documents law requires agency prepare agency decided reasons create sterling drug ftc app thus insofar order requires agency create explanatory material baseless agency required identify fact documents contain circumstances case opinion may referred identified party seeking disclosure iv finally petitioners argue advice appeals memoranda exempt pursuant exemptions documents incorporated therein protected exemption respect advice appeals memoranda decline reach decision claims reasons set forth respect documents incorporated therein remand proceedings exemption provided time sears request documents time decisions courts act apply investigatory files compiled law enforcement purposes except extent available law party agency noting support legislative history proposition exemption applies civil enforcement labor laws general counsel asserts documentation underlying advice appeals memoranda investigatory files believes memoranda similarly exempt light purposes exemption general counsel also cites several lower decisions proposition certain type document determined fall category investigatory files courts inquire whether disclosure particular document question contravene purposes exemption two factors combine convince us reach claim advice appeals memoranda protected exemption first general counsel make claim district although make appeals affirmed without opinion basis prior decision another case involving exemption clear whether appeals passed claim thus unenlightened question whether advice appeals memoranda factual matter contain information disclosure offend purposes exemption without lower opinion legal issue circumstances normally decline consider legal claim ramsey mine workers adickes kress adhere policy case second congress amended exemption since petitioners filed brief case applies investigatory records compiled law enforcement purposes extent production records interfere enforcement proceedings deprive person right fair trial impartial adjudication constitute unwarranted invasion personal privacy disclose identity confidential source case record compiled criminal law enforcement authority course criminal investigation agency conducting lawful national security intelligence investigation confidential information furnished confidential source disclose investigative techniques procedures endanger life physical safety law enforcement personnel pub stat decision exemption issue case act amended fusari steinberg apart general counsel failure raise issue lower courts opportunity pass applicability act amended advice appeals memoranda since amendment occurred decision appeals general counsel claim advice appeals memoranda documents related solely internal personnel rules practices agency therefore protected exemption raised neither district appeals decline reach reasons set forth finally general counsel claims documents incorporated reference advice appeals memoranda previously protected exemption lose exempt status reason incorporation contrary district think argument sound reasons underlying congress decision protect investigatory files original act amendments applicable document referred advice appeals memorandum document therefore document protected exemption become disclosable solely referred final opinion aware result holding final opinions easily understood otherwise however noted act give public right intelligible opinions cases simply gives public right final opinions agency chooses write act applies congress said act apply certain investigatory files case must accordingly remanded district determination whether documents incorporated reference disclosable advice appeals memoranda protected exemption amended summary respect advice appeals memoranda conclude complaint filed affirm judgment appeals subject decision remand whether government foreclosed pursuing exemption claim respect documents specifically incorporated therein remand determination whether documents protected exemption amended insofar judgment appeals requires general counsel supply documents expressly incorporated reference advice appeals memoranda otherwise explain circumstances case reversed respect advice appeals memoranda conclude complaint filed judgment appeals likewise reversed ordered justice powell took part consideration decision case footnotes title time question provided pertinent part except respect records made available paragraphs subsection agency request identifiable records made accordance published rules stating time place fees extent authorized statute procedure followed shall make records promptly available person relevant exempt categories described exemptions respect statute provides section apply matters related solely internal personnel rules practices agency memorandums letters available law party agency litigation agency investigatory files compiled law enforcement purposes except extent available law party agency officers employees regional offices general supervision general counsel national labor relations board organization functions et fed reg document sought sears april general counsel ceased preparing separate appeals memorandum every case ceased preparing one case regional director decision issue complaint sustained latter class cases general counsel adopted policy expanding letter sent charging party sending regional director copy letter statement submitted nlrb general counsel house labor subcommittee june hereinafter statement cch lab index advice appeals memoranda maintained general counsel sears later added request memoranda dealing contract successorship doctrine burns international detective agency nlrb pending well cases dealing lockouts occurring bargaining situations sears process preparing appeal general counsel washington refusal regional director file complaint board response unfair labor practice charge earlier filed sears regional director seattle wash refusal based upon advice memorandum involved judgment timeliness withdrawal sears bargaining unit letter sent regional director sears explain refusal stated sears withdrawal untimely sears appeal without benefit documents sought ultimately successful complaint filed board hearings scheduled commence complaint november proceedings board delayed time stay issued district later reversed appeals sears roebuck nlrb app cert denied complaint eventually withdrawn upon withdrawal underlying charge sears rights act neither increased decreased reason fact claims interest advice appeals memoranda greater shared average member public act fundamentally designed inform public agency action benefit private litigants epa mink renegotiation board bannercraft clothing accordingly refer sears underlying unfair labor practice charge reference apparently provisions specifically providing disclosure indexing final opinions effective date act parties make issue breadth order assume intended apply appeals advice memoranda dealing subject matter described sears complaint see general counsel abandoned contrary contention predecessor made connection appeals memoranda august letter sears ability private litigant override privilege claim set government respect otherwise disclosable document may turn extent litigant need context facts particular case nature case epa mink hickman taylor jencks nixon however sensible construe act require disclosure document disclosed hypothetical litigation private party claim compelling indeed house report says exemption intended permit disclosure memoranda routinely disclosed private litigation accept law sterling drug ftc app remarks nixon made context claim executive privilege resting solely constitution claim made mean intimate documents involved protected whatever constitutional content doctrine executive privilege might emphasis need protect documents mean existence privilege turns ability agency identify specific decision connection memorandum prepared agencies properly engaged continuing process examining policies process generate memoranda containing recommendations ripen agency decisions lower courts wary interfering process aware line predecisional documents postdecisional documents may always bright one indeed even prototype postdecisional document final opinion serves dual function explaining decision made providing guides decisions similar analogous cases arising future latter function opinion predecisional manner written may therefore affect decisions later cases present purposes sufficient note final opinions primarily postdecisional looking back explaining decision already reached policy already adopted disclosure poses negligible risk denying agency decisionmakers uninhibited advice important agency decisions report prepared connection senate bill identical one led act eventually passed congress see note harv rev technically course document example final opinion memorandum within exemption nondisclosable since act apply documents falling within exemptions general counsel argues makes law analogizing authority decide whether file complaint public prosecutor authority decide whether criminal case brought claims adjudicate anything resembling civil dispute without deciding whether public prosecutor makes law decides prosecute whether memoranda explaining decisions final opinions see infra sufficient note general counsel analogy far perfect general counsel unlike prosecutors may authorize filing complaint board private citizen files charge cfr auto workers scofield nlrb indiana michigan electric unlike victim crime charging party complaint filed general counsel become party unfair labor practice proceeding board cfr auto workers scofield supra unfair labor practice found exist ensuing order unlike punishment defendant criminal case coerce conduct wrongdoer flowing particularly benefit charging party reasons declined characterize enforcement laws unfair labor practices either wholly public wholly private matter general counsel letter sears august referred appeals memoranda appeal denied final opinions davis braswell motor freight lines relied heavily general counsel contrary case advice memoranda held privileged civil discovery context however reading case discloses advice memoranda involved issued cases later came board may therefore inferred memoranda direct dismissal charge directed filing complaint note possibility decision reached advice memorandum may overturned appeals memorandum happened case involving sears discussed supra affect finality purposes decision reached advice memorandum absence appeal filed charging party real operative effect much every order issued appeals indeed since general counsel ultimately responsible advice appeals memoranda appeal case advice memorandum prepared like petition rehearing like normal appeal probability result change slim advice memorandum therefore unlike advisory opinion involved itt electrical workers regional board reports operative effect reviewed statutory board companion case renegotiation board grumman aircraft post unnecessary therefore decide whether petitioners correct asserting properly construed instructions staff event include documents prepared furtherance prosecution specific case noted documents incorporated reference main factual documents probably entitled exemption treatment first place epa mink purposes appear prevent premature disclosure results investigation government present strongest case keep confidential procedures agency conducted investigation obtained information frankel sec cert denied first purpose plainly inapplicable cases general counsel declined commence case general counsel never tells us whether procedures information sources revealed advice appeals memoranda weisberg department justice app en banc cert denied accord center national policy review weinberger app rural housing alliance department agriculture app ditlow brinegar app cert denied aspin department defense app since general counsel failed district assert claim version exemption anything favorable position current version appeals remand determine whether petitioners foreclosed pursuing issue note addition however equity may always amend decree proper showing district may wish general counsel demonstrates injury functions type sought prevented exemption resulting disclosure particular advice appeals memorandum