Opinion ID: 3012963
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jurisdictional Defect v. Waiver

Text: We reject the Government’s contention that Polishan’s failure to seek reconsideration under the procedures specified by the Local Rule means that we lack jurisdiction to review the Magistrate Judge’s holdings. We have always treated the defect as non-jurisdictional by allowing for 6 review when “exceptional circumstances” exist. Continental Cas. Co. v. Dominick D’Andrea, Inc., 150 F.3d 245, 251 n.9 (3d Cir. 1998) (citing Tabron v. Grace, 6 F.3d 147, 153-54 n.2 (3d Cir. 1993)). If the defect were jurisdictional, of course, we would be unable to review the order even in the most exceptional of circumstances. See United States v. Brown, 299 F.3d 1252, 1260 (11th Cir. 2002) (“Although Brown argues for an equitable exception, the rule is jurisdictional and therefore is not subject to equitable exceptions.”)(citations omitted). While we hold that we shall not review the Magistrate Judge’s rulings because of Polishan’s failure to seek reconsideration under the procedures specified by the Local Rule, we do so because he has waived his right to appellate review, not because our Court lacks jurisdiction to review his claims. Accord United States v. Brown, 79 F.3d 1499, 1504-05 (7th Cir. 1996) (holding that waiver is not jurisdictional); 12 Charles Alan Wright et al., Federal Practice and Procedure § 3070.1 (2d ed. 1997) (“Even where the [waiver] rule applies, it is not jurisdictional.”).3