U.S. v. Santtini

This case involves an unusual set of facts and an apparent question of first impression in the federal judicial system: whether a federal district court has the power to order federal law enforcement agents to refrain from arresting the subject of a valid arrest warrant in order to ensure that the subject of the warrant, who is a fugitive in a foreign country, will have an opportunity to give deposition testimony exculpating other criminal defendants. Unsure whether this district court order falls within the collateral order doctrine, making it immediately appealable, the government has proceeded on alternative jurisdictional theories. These two alternatives are to appeal the district courts order or to seek the extraordinary writ of mandamus or prohibition preventing the enforcement of the order. We will grant the writ to prohibit enforcement of the order of the district court.