Opinion ID: 387949
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: mootness and ripeness

Text: 7 The United States contends that this appeal is moot because many of the grand jury materials in question have already been disclosed to Civil Division attorneys and their assistants. It asserts that even if Sells, Witte, and Sells, Inc., prevail this court will be powerless to accord relief. 8 We disagree. The controversy here is still a live one. By its terms the disclosure order grants access to all attorneys for the Civil Division, their paralegal and secretarial staff, and all other necessary assistants. Each day this order remains effective the veil of secrecy is lifted higher by disclosure to additional personnel and by the continued access of those to whom the materials have already been disclosed. We cannot restore the secrecy that has already been lost but we can grant partial relief by preventing further disclosure. 9 The United States also contends that any challenge to use of the materials is premature. It cites several cases suggesting that evidence improperly obtained from a grand jury may be suppressed at a subsequent civil proceeding. See In re April 1977 Grand Jury Subpoenas (General Motors), 584 F.2d 1366, 1370 (6th Cir. 1978) (en banc), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 934, 99 S.Ct. 1277, 59 L.Ed.2d 492 (1979); In re Grand Jury, 583 F.2d 128, 131 (5th Cir. 1978) (per curiam); In re Grand Jury Subpoenas, 581 F.2d 1103, 1110 n.16 (4th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 971, 99 S.Ct. 1533, 59 L.Ed.2d 787 (1979); In re Fred R. Witte Center Glass No. 3, 544 F.2d 1026, 1029 (9th Cir. 1976); Coson v. United States, 533 F.2d 1119, 1120-21 (9th Cir. 1976) (per curiam); see also, United States v. Penrod, 609 F.2d 1092, 1097 (4th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 446 U.S. 917, 100 S.Ct. 1850, 64 L.Ed.2d 271 (1980); S.Rep. No. 95-354, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 7 n.12 (1977), reprinted in 1977 U.S. Code Cong. & Ad. News 527, 531 n.12. This fact does not make the present action unripe or premature. This action is a proper means to prevent future disclosure before it occurs; the availability of a motion to suppress in future civil proceedings provides a remedy for improper disclosures that have already occurred. Our decision here and any rulings on remand regarding the propriety of the disclosures will of course be binding in such proceedings, at least upon the parties to this appeal.