Opinion ID: 796392
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Quashing the Subpoenas

Text: 30 JDC's final argument on appeal is that the district court erred by denying its motion to quash the early subpoenas issued by the grand jury. JDC's motion focused mainly on quashing the subpoenas as a remedy for the alleged Rule 6(e) violation. Our conclusion that there was no Rule 6(e) violation moots this requested remedy. However, JDC also briefly asked the court to quash the subpoenas due to the undue burden placed upon JDC by the requirement for continued compliance and the length of the investigation. JDC's appeal from the district court's denial of the motion to quash, as related to any alleged undue burden, is not properly before us. An order of a district court denying a motion to quash a grand jury subpoena—that is, an order requiring compliance with the subpoena— is not immediately appealable. In re Grand Jury Subpoena Duces Tecum, 112 F.3d 910, 914 (8th Cir.1997), cert. denied, 521 U.S. 1105, 117 S.Ct. 2482, 138 L.Ed.2d 991 (1997); see also, Cobbledick v. United States, 309 U.S. 323, 327-28, 60 S.Ct. 540, 84 L.Ed. 783 (1940); but see United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 691-92, 94 S.Ct. 3090, 41 L.Ed.2d 1039 (1974) (finding that the unique circumstances of the case allowed an exception to the rule so the President of the United States could appeal before being cited for contempt). The denial of a motion to quash a subpoena is not a final order reviewable by this court, as the right of review attaches only if the target of the subpoena fails to comply and is found in contempt. See Cobbledick, 309 U.S. at 327-28, 60 S.Ct. 540; In re Grand Jury Subpoena Duces Tecum, 112 F.3d at 914; In re Grand Jury Witnesses, 92 F.3d 710, 712 (8th Cir.1996) (reviewing district court's denial of a motion to quash a grand jury subpoena after the targets were found in contempt); In re Three Grand Jury Subpoenas, 847 F.2d 1024, 1027-28 (2d Cir.1988) (holding that a ruling on a citation for contempt is required for appellate jurisdiction, although the actual imposition of sanctions is not). Because JDC has not been held in contempt for failing to comply with the grand jury subpoenas, the issue is not ripe and we dismiss this claim for lack of appellate jurisdiction.