Opinion ID: 543599
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: 27 Before we move to the merits of Backiel's appeal, we must resolve a jurisdictional issue of first impression in this circuit: where a recalcitrant witness is not confined pursuant to an order of contempt, does the passing of the 30-day period for decision set forth in 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1826(b) deprive this court of jurisdiction? Having reviewed the decisions and reasoning of other federal appellate courts considering this question, we are satisfied that we retain jurisdiction to consider this matter despite the fact that more than thirty days have elapsed since the filing of the notice of appeal. We hold with other circuits that the thirty day rule has no application where the contemnor is not confined pursuant to the contempt order. See In re Sealed Case, 829 F.2d 189, 190 (D.C.Cir.1987) rev'd on other grounds, 838 F.2d 476 (D.C.Cir.), prob. juris. noted, 484 U.S. 1058, 108 S.Ct. 1010, 98 L.Ed.2d 976 (1988); In re Grand Jury Proceedings re: Larson, 785 F.2d 629, 631 n. 4 (8th Cir.1986), cert. denied sub nom. Roe v. U.S., 484 U.S. 963, 108 S.Ct. 451, 98 L.Ed.2d 391 (1987); U.S. v. Johnson, 736 F.2d 358 (6th Cir.1984); In re Witness Before Special October Grand Jury, 722 F.2d 349, 353 (7th Cir.1983), cert. denied sub nom. Roe v. U.S., 484 U.S. 963, 108 S.Ct. 451, 98 L.Ed.2d 391 (1987); In re Rosahn, 671 F.2d 690, 694 (2d Cir.1982); In re Grand Jury Proceedings (Gravel), 605 F.2d 750 (5th Cir.1979); and Brown v. U.S., 465 F.2d 371, 372 (9th Cir.1972). 1 28 The 30-day time frame specified in Sec. 1826(b) was designed to protect the incarcerated recalcitrant witness from protracted confinement without appellate review of the order holding him in contempt. Where the contemnor is not incarcerated, the concerns underlying the fixing of an inflexible time schedule are not implicated. We adopt, therefore, as our position, the language of the court in In re Sealed Case: 29 While cases of this genre merit and must receive expedited treatment, see [28 U.S.C.] Sec. 1657(a), fair and complete consideration is sometimes impossible 'not later than thirty days from the filing of [the notice of] appeal.' Id. Sec. 1826(b). Instead of rushing headlong to meet a rigid deadline, this court has strived and will continue to strive to decide 'recalcitrant witness' appeals 'as soon as practicable.' 30 829 F.2d at 190 (footnote omitted). Having resolved this threshold jurisdictional issue, we turn to the merits of the appeal.