Opinion ID: 438684
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: i. the refusal to issue mandamus

Text: 61 To begin with, I believe it is a mistake for the majority to refuse to issue a writ of mandamus after having written an opinion that in essence directs the district court to reverse itself and protect the work product. 3 First, there is mischief resulting from this discrepancy between opinion and judgment. If, as I assume will happen, the district court heeds the majority's advice and denies production of the documents the defendants had sought, the defendants will, as a practical matter, have lost this case. Because of the failure of the court to issue the writ, however, the defendants may technically have won and thus be foreclosed from petitioning the Supreme Court for certiorari review of today's decision. 4 Second, because the impact of the majority opinion is not clear, at least to me, in certain of its aspects, 5 I think the better practice is to issue a clearly worded writ lest the district court be confused as to its charter on remand.