Opinion ID: 77264
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Motion To Quash DFACS Subpoena

Text: 85 As for this issue, Brown contends that the magistrate judge erred in quashing a subpoena Brown served upon the Liberty County Department of Child and Family Services (DFACS) for the production of [a]ny and all material relating to Sadie Brown and/or Roy Morgan, their living and health circumstances, and any information regarding their residence at 6724 Leroy Coffer Highway, Fleming, Georgia, 30308. The Georgia Attorney General's Office moved to quash the subpoena. The magistrate judge conducted an in camera inspection of the relevant files and quashed the subpoena, noting that [the files] contain no information relevant to defendant's case and no information that would warrant disclosure of these typically confidential records. In fact, defendant's name is not even referenced in any of these records. 86 We lack jurisdiction to review the magistrate judge's order because Brown never appealed the ruling to the district court. See United States v. Brown, 342 F.3d 1245, 1246 (11th Cir.2003); United States v. Renfro, 620 F.2d 497, 500 (5th Cir.1980) (noting that [t]he law is settled that appellate courts are without jurisdiction to hear appeals directly from federal magistrates). 9 Accordingly, we may not consider whether the district court abused its discretion in quashing the subpoena. 87