Opinion ID: 527092
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Basis for Interlocutory Jurisdiction

Text: 3 Defendants do not state the basis for our jurisdiction over the interlocutory appeals. If defendants base jurisdiction on our recently vacated decision in United States v. Benjamin, 812 F.2d 548 (9th Cir.1987), vacated, --- U.S. ----, 109 S.Ct. 1948, 104 L.Ed.2d 418 (1989), then we clearly lack jurisdiction. See Midland Asphalt, 109 S.Ct. at 1498. If, as it appears, defendants rely on our related decision in United States v. Dederich, 825 F.2d 1317 (9th Cir.1987), then we must decide whether Dederich is still valid law after Midland Asphalt. We must first determine, therefore, if defendants' allegations fall within Dederich. 4 In Dederich, we held that alleged prosecutorial misconduct that merely affects the grand jury charging process is reviewable on interlocutory appeals. Id. at 1320; see also United States v. Howard, 867 F.2d 548, 550 (9th Cir.1989). Alleged errors rais[ing] issues of fundamental fairness that implicate substantial rights protected by the due process clause may not be reviewed under Dederich. Howard, 867 F.2d at 550. Such errors must be appealed after trial. Id. 5 In this case, the defendants contend the indictment should be dismissed because: (1) the government failed to present to the grand jury exculpatory information concerning the credibility of an informant witness; (2) the government improperly presented to the grand jury evidence of a gun found in one of the defendant's residence; (3) the government improperly informed the grand jury that all of the defendants had invoked their right to counsel; (4) the government improperly informed the grand jury that all the defendants had made relatively high bonds; (5) the prosecutor improperly acted as a witness before the grand jury; (6) a grand jury witness improperly expressed an opinion; and (7) the government's procedure in presenting the case to the grand jury raised a claim of vindictive indictment. 6 The defendants' sixth claim does not allege prosecutorial misconduct and hence is not immediately appealable under Dederich. Similarly, their final claim alleging vindictive prosecution, is not subject to interlocutory appeal because the defendant may raise the claim on appeal from final judgment. United States v. Hollywood Motor Car Co., 458 U.S. 263, 264, 102 S.Ct. 3081, 3082, 73 L.Ed.2d 754 (1982) (per curiam); see also Howard, 867 F.2d at 551-52. 7 Defendants' first five claims allege prosecutorial misconduct affecting the grand jury charging process. These claims do not challenge the fundamental fairness of the criminal prosecution. Instead, they merely challenge the procedures by which the grand jury decided to indict defendants. Accordingly, the defendants' first five claims support valid Dederich appeals. See Dederich, 825 F.2d at 1320; see also Howard, 867 F.2d at 552. Thus, we next consider whether we have jurisdiction over these appeals in light of the Supreme Court decision in Midland Asphalt.