Opinion ID: 707629
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Motions to Compel Production

Text: 15 Vought filed numerous discovery requests for items that were not directly discoverable from the federal government because the items were in the State of Alaska's possession. See United States v. Dominguez-Villa, 954 F.2d 562, 565-66 (9th Cir.1992) (district court cannot compel government to turn over documents that are under the control of state officials). The district court suggested that these items might be discoverable in part under Fed.R.Crim.P. 17(c). Vought subsequently issued two subpoenas, requesting numerous state documents and files, pursuant to Rule 17(c). The state objected to the production of various documents. The district court upheld only the objections that were based either on the ground that the requested documents would jeopardize an ongoing investigation or on the ground that Vought had failed to demonstrate the relevance of the requested documents. We review the district court's ruling for an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 702, 94 S.Ct. 3090, 3104-05, 41 L.Ed.2d 1039 (1974). 16 We hold that the district court's refusal to order production was not an abuse of discretion. Vought was required to show, inter alia, that the subpoenaed documents were relevant, see id. at 700, 94 S.Ct. at 3103-04, and he wholly failed to do so. Vought only provided the requisite explanation of relevancy after the court had already ruled on the matter; Vought's prior filings contained, at most, vague and conclusory assertions of relevance. Moreover, production of confidential and ongoing investigation files would have been unreasonable and oppressive, and the request for those materials was therefore properly denied. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 17(c).