behrens pelletier argued november decided february respondent fired provisional managing officer pioneer savings loan association petitioner federal official responsible monitoring pioneer operations recommended action respondent investigation potential misconduct relating collapse another financial institution respondent filed suit seeking inter alia damages alleged constitutional wrongs bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents partially denying petitioner motion dismiss bivens claims district rejected petitioner asserted defense qualified immunity suit appeal ninth circuit held denial qualified immunity immediately appealable final decision cohen beneficial industrial loan also stated dictum official claiming qualified immunity entitled one pretrial appeal ultimately affirmed district rejection petitioner defense based allegations made respondent complaint remand proceedings district denied petitioner motion summary judgment claimed qualified immunity petitioner appeal denial second pretrial appeal based rejection defense summarily dismissed ninth circuit lack jurisdiction held defendant immediate appeal unfavorable ruling motion dismiss deprive appeals jurisdiction second appeal also based qualified immunity immediately following denial summary judgment pp page ii ninth circuit rule rejected mitchell forsyth held district denial qualified immunity immediately appealable final decision within meaning mitchell plainly contemplated government officer raise defense stage see clearly establishes order rejecting defense either stage final judgment subject immediate appeal unsuccessful appeal denial motion dismiss possibly render later denial motion summary judgment less final absent prior decision follows petitioner appeal seeks review final decision within dismissal appeals improper ninth circuit proposition one judiciously timed appeal necessary safeguard defendant right qualified immunity unsound factors determinative question different summary judgment looks uncontested evidence earlier motion dismiss merely looks allegations complaint pp respondent additional arguments dismissal proper order denying said final cohen since even reversed petitioner nonetheless required endure discovery trial matters johnson jones denial summary judgment immediately appealable rests determination genuine dispute exists material issues fact also rejected pp scalia delivered opinion rehnquist kennedy souter thomas ginsburg joined breyer filed dissenting opinion stevens joined behrens pelletier justice scalia delivered opinion mitchell forsyth held district rejection defendant defense final decision subject immediate appeal general appellate jurisdiction statute question presented case whether defendant immediate appeal unfavorable ruling motion dismiss deprives appeals jurisdiction second appeal also based qualified immunity immediately following denial summary judgment south coast savings loan association new institution applied federal home loan bank board fhlbb board approval necessary obtain account insurance federal savings loan insurance corporation fslic fhlbb behrens pelletier regulations approval new institutions withheld financial policies management found unsafe various reasons including character management cfr accordingly fhlbb approved south coast fslic insurance march imposed number requirements including condition south coast provide employment qualified executive managing officer subject approval principal supervisory agent fhlbb term president regional home loan bank operating oversight capacity behalf fhlbb resolution mar board resolution also required period three years change south coast chief management position approved fhlbb ibid shortly obtaining fhlbb conditional approval south coast succeeded interest pioneer savings loan association another new institution pioneer named respondent pelletier managing officer subject fhlbb consent pioneer sought weeks earlier however april fhlbb declared insolvent beverly hills savings loan association respondent one time held senior executive position inquiry fslic pointed potential misconduct management failed institution ultimately became subject fslic lawsuit several beverly hills officers including respondent fslic suit yet filed time pioneer sought board consent hire respondent fslic pending investigation beverly hills collapse caused petitioner behrens fhlbb supervisory agent responsible monitoring pioneer operations write pioneer may withholding approval advising respondent replaced behrens pelletier receipt letter pioneer asked respondent resign refused fired three years later respondent brought suit federal naming petitioner defendant complaint included bivens damages claims two alleged constitutional wrongs see bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents respondent charged first petitioner action writing letter effectively discharged post pioneer summary fashion without notice opportunity heard violated right procedural due process second claimed deprived substantive due process petitioner alleged interference clearly established constitutionally protected property liberty rights specific employment pursue profession free undue governmental interference first amended complaint reprinted app complaint alleged petitioner letter along continuing efforts harm reputation cost respondent position pioneer also livelihood within savings loan industry complaint also contained claims petitioner federal home loan bank san francisco petitioner immediate employer fhlbb none relevant present appeal petitioner filed motion dismiss alternative summary judgment regard bivens claims asserted defense claimed qualified immunity suit ground actions taken governmental capacity id violate clearly established statutory constitutional rights harlow fitzgerald district ruled favor petitioner ground therefore dismissed bivens claim behrens pelletier bivens claim extent related petitioner letter respondent loss employment pioneer refused however dismiss respondent suit extent based alleged subsequent acts defendan preventing continuing prevent respondent securing employment pelletier federal home loan bank san francisco cv cd reprinted app also denied petitioner summary judgment motion without prejudice ground premature given lack discovery petitioner immediately appealed district implicit denial defense regarding remaining bivens claim appeals entertained appeal notwithstanding interlocutory nature holding denial qualified immunity appealable final order test set forth cohen beneficial indust loan regardless whether denial takes form refusal grant defendant motion dismiss denial summary judgment pelletier federal home loan bank san francisco said dictum however defendant claiming qualified immunity take advantage several opportunities immediate appeal afforded bringing repeated pretrial appeals ne interlocutory appeal government official entitled entertain merits appeal rejected argument petitioner enjoyed qualified immunity violated clearly established right said question whether respondent constitutionally protected property interest pioneer employment subject regulatory approval properly since claims relating specifically discharge dismissed behrens pelletier appeals noted dictum however district applied unduly short limitations period respect claimed deprivation employment held nebulous theories conspiracy set respondent complaint although insufficient survive motion summary judgment made proper bivens claim upon remand district reversed earlier ruling light appeals dictum reinstated claims relating employment pioneer discovery petitioner moved summary judgment grounds contending actions violated clearly established right respondent regarding employment pioneer elsewhere district denied motion unadorned statement aterial issues fact remain defendant behrens bivens claim pelletier federal home loan bank san francisco cv cd reprinted app pet cert petitioner filed notice appeal respondent motion district certified frivolous unpublished order ninth circuit dismissed appeal lack jurisdiction pelletier federal home loan bank san francisco reprinted app pet cert granted certiorari ii section title gives courts appeals jurisdiction final decisions district courts except appeal requirement finality precludes consideration decisions subject revision even fully consummated decisions steps behrens pelletier towards final judgment merge cohen supra however bar review prejudgment orders cohen described small class district decisions though short final judgment immediately appealable finally determine claims right separable collateral rights asserted action important denied review independent cause require appellate consideration deferred whole case adjudicated ibid see also puerto rico aqueduct sewer authority metcalf eddy citing coopers lybrand livesay issue present case extent orders denying governmental officers assertions qualified immunity come within cohen category appealable decisions set forth harlow fitzgerald defense shield government agents liability civil damages insofar conduct violate clearly established statutory constitutional rights reasonable person known citing procunier navarette harlow adopted criterion objective legal reasonableness rather good faith precisely order permit defeat insubstantial claims without resort trial unsurprisingly later found immunity entitlement stand trial face burdens litigation conditioned resolution essentially legal immunity question mitchell forsyth rejection claims entitlements distinct merits see puerto rico aqueduct supra eleventh amendment immunity abney right subjected double jeopardy behrens pelletier held district denial claim qualified immunity extent turns issue law appealable final decision within meaning notwithstanding absence final judgment mitchell supra see also johnson jones slip mitchell say defendant appeal denial qualified immunity defense clearly contemplated raise defense successive stages unless plaintiff allegations state claim violation clearly established law defendant pleading qualified immunity entitled dismissal commencement discovery even plaintiff complaint adequately alleges commission acts violated clearly established law defendant entitled summary judgment discovery fails uncover evidence sufficient create genuine issue whether defendant fact committed acts citation omitted indeed easier argue denial summary judgment order sought appealed behrens pelletier final two orders reasoning first circuit adopted holding denial motion dismiss grounds final defendant stated unsuccessful later seek summary judgment grounds since district yet determined whether defendant qualified immunity stand trial decision appealable collateral order kaiter boxford problem approach however logically bar appeal stage possibility presenting immunity defense summary judgment possibility cause decision final defendant right stand trial first circuit sought avoid difficulty saying defendant render denial final waiving right appeal denial see quite obviously eliminating ability appeal second order eliminate possibility second order vindicate defendant right stand trial therefore eliminate supposed reason declaring first order nonfinal source first circuit confusion mistaken conception scope protection afforded qualified immunity harlow mitchell make clear defense meant give government officials right merely avoid standing trial also avoid burdens pretrial matters discovery nquiries kind peculiarly disruptive effective government mitchell supra emphasis added quoting harlow supra whether later motion granted denial motion dismiss conclusive right thought behrens pelletier statements mitchell harlow settled point questioned justice breyer see post slip right important enough support immediate appeal however consequence one pretrial appeal given case justice breyer proposes rather immediate appeal denial motion dismiss denial summary judgment conclusion foreclosed mitchell unmistakably envisioned immediate appeal denial defendant motion dismissal summary judgment ground qualified immunity appeals present case first two decisions rested pronouncement upon proposition resolving question entitlement qualified immunity require one judiciously timed appeal pelletier explain proposition pertains question finality suppose argued category appeals thought needless superfluous raise claim right important denied review cohen finality jurisprudence requires see event proposition sound one appeal immunity issue may enough illustrated history respondent claims loss employment pioneer present case claims initially dismissed appeals refused decide thus evidently regarded open question whether one holds job subject regulatory approval assert constitutionally cognizable expectation continued employment see pelletier supra thus question whether petitioner entitled immunity claims presented petitioner motion operation behrens pelletier ninth circuit rule never addressed appellate assuredly unusual set circumstances even case proceeding normal fashion resolution immunity question may require one judiciously timed appeal legally relevant factors bearing upon harlow question different summary judgment earlier motion dismiss earlier stage defendant conduct alleged complaint scrutinized objective legal reasonableness summary judgment however plaintiff longer rest pleadings see fed rule civ proc looks evidence light favorable plaintiff conducting harlow inquiry true defendant unsuccessfully appealed denial motion dismiss need appeal denial motion summary judgment defendant unsuccessfully made motion dismiss need make motion summary judgment appeals expressed concern second appeal tend illegitimate purpose delaying proceedings see behrens pelletier undeniably availability second appeal affords opportunity abuse reason believe abuse often occurred contrary successive pretrial assertions immunity seem rare occurrence moreover abuse occur observed analogous context interlocutory appeals issue double jeopardy well within supervisory powers courts appeals establish summary procedures calendars weed frivolous claims abney present case example district appropriately certified petitioner immunity appeal frivolous light appeals unfortunately erroneous precedent practice embraced several circuits enables district retain jurisdiction pending summary disposition appeal thereby minimizes disruption ongoing proceedings see chuman wright yates cleveland stewart donges apostol gallion event question us whether jurisdiction appeal opposed whether appeal frivolous must determined focusing upon category order appealed rather behrens pelletier upon strength grounds reversing order appeal rights depend facts particular case carroll see also digital equipment desktop direct slip said order denying qualified immunity extent turns issue law mitchell immediately appealable ii rejection rule dispose case respondent proposes two reasons appeal denial motion available first argues appeal available even district ruling reversed defendant required endure discovery trial matters separate claims immunity asserted respondent reasons ruling reach claims conclusively determin defendant claim right stand trial thus order denying immunity said final within meaning cohen far clear given procedural posture present case respondent entitled benefit proposition argues address proposition merits courts appeals almost unanimously rejected behrens pelletier harlow right immunity right immunity certain claims litigation general immunity respect claims finally denied appeal must available foreclosed mere addition claims suit making appealability depend upon factor particular case hand violate principle discussed appealability determinations made classes decisions individual orders specific cases apart objections principle practical effect respondent proposal intolerable district rules erroneously right subjected pretrial proceedings eliminated long plaintiff alleged without evidence back violation one clearly established right right subjected trial eliminated long complaint seeks injunctive relief clearly established right need alleged second respondent asserts appeal denial motion available denial rested ground aterial issues fact remain contends renders denial unappealable last term decision johnson jones slip misreading case every denial summary judgment ultimately rests upon determination controverted issues material fact see fed rule civ proc johnson surely mean every denial summary judgment nonappealable behrens pelletier johnson held simply determinations evidentiary sufficiency summary judgment immediately appealable merely happen arise case issue sufficiency determination nothing whether evidence support finding particular conduct occurred question decided truly separable plaintiff claim hence final decision cohen mitchell see slip johnson reaffirmed determinations appealable resolve dispute concerning abstract issu law relating qualified immunity slip typically issue whether federal right allegedly infringed clearly established see mitchell supra davis scherer district denial petitioner motion necessarily determined certain conduct attributed petitioner controverted constituted violation clearly established law johnson permits petitioner claim appeal conduct district deemed sufficiently supported purposes summary judgment met harlow standard objective legal reasonableness argument presented petitioner trial apparent impediment raised appeal district denying petitioner motion identify particular charged conduct deemed adequately supported johnson recognizes circumstances appeals may undertake cumbersome review record determine facts district light favorable nonmoving party likely assumed johnson supra slip task facing appeals case behrens pelletier judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes interestingly however mitchell dealt second two interlocutory appeals immunity claims see neither appeals assigned significance successive aspect second appeal justice breyer suggests second two pretrial appeals come within cohen class immediately appealable final orders insufficiently separable claim raised first appeal see post slip cohen separability component asks whether question resolved appeal conceptually distinct merits plaintiff claim mitchell forsyth appropriate comparison decision sought reviewed claim underlying action decision previous appeal justice breyer suggests mitchell clearly denial qualified immunity whether motion dismissal summary judgment appealable final decision aware five reported cases mitchell nelson silverman abel miller francis coughlin present case courts appeals twice asked review successive pretrial assertions immunity see abel supra paucity precedent successive interlocutory appeals must reflect forbearance public officials rather lack opportunity kaiter boxford every case found permitted interlocutory review immunity ruling defendant entire claim immunity raised single proceeding see mclaurin morton green brantley en banc di martini ferrin cert denied young lynch devargas mason hanger silas mason musso hourigan scott lacy behrens pelletier cert denied de abadia izquierdo mora tubbesing arnold third circuit holds otherwise see prisco dept justice cert denied behrens pelletier justice breyer justice stevens joins dissenting agree holding asserting defense qualified immunity entitled matter course one interlocutory appeal rather view law normally permits single interlocutory appeal one appeal denials defendant pretrial motions dismiss case grounds qualified immunity collateral order doctrine basic rationale precedents several practical considerations lead conclusion basic rationale permitting interlocutory appeal collateral order recognizes interlocutory appeals exception rule congress statutory exceptions directly relevant authorized appeals final orders way congress forbidding piecemeal disposition appeal practical purposes single controversy set enfeebling judicial administration obstruction claims come permitting harassment cost succession separate appeals behrens pelletier various rulings litigation may give rise initiation entry judgment cobbledick requirements explain courts created collateral order exception effective unreviewability requirement means failure review order appeal may cause litigant permanent harm conclusive determination requirement means appellate review likely needed avoid harm separability requirement means review likely force appellate consider quite similar questions johnson jones slip taken together requirements set forth cases see ibid midland asphalt gulfstream aerospace mayacamas help pick class orders benefits immediate appeal likely outweigh costs delays diminished litigation coherence waste appellate time potentially associated multiple appeals behrens pelletier see johnson supra slip posner economic analysis law ed mitchell forsyth applied rationale district order denying claim qualified immunity concluded district order sending case trial cause litigant term basic purpose amount important harm see appellate review come late avoid harm ibid legal issue purely legal see johnson supra slip often prove separate enough basic substantive issues case avoid significant duplication appellate time effort see see brennan dissenting hence collateral order doctrine basic rationale supported interlocutory appeal rationale however support two pretrial interlocutory appeals first denial motion dismiss complaint second later denial motion summary judgment consider separability requirement orders satisfy literal terms requirement qualified immunity issues resolve separate equal measure merits plaintiff claim see ante slip reasoned principles purposes underlying separability requirement served rule permits orders appealed issues raise normally separate one rather often involve quite similar issues likely presented different appellate panels thereby risking duplication waste appellate resources courts intended separability requirement avoid see behrens pelletier wright miller cooper federal practice procedure pp ed hereinafter wright miller similarly given law promise one pretrial interlocutory appeal litigant need second much less pressing single interlocutory appeal avoid much though harm mitchell found remaining harm shall next discuss kind law considers important enough justify interlocutory appeal ii precedents justify one interlocutory appeal ordinary qualified immunity case initially set forth collateral order exception said applied small class orders determine claims right important denied immediate review cohen supra emphasis added subsequent cases today reiterated qualify interlocutory appeal interest asserted must important one see ante slip digital equipment desktop direct slip cohen inquiry simply answered without judgment value interests lost rigorous application final judgment requirement coopers lybrand supra disputed question must resolve important issue koller see also lauro lines chasser scalia concurring importance right asserted always significant part collateral order doctrine one pretrial appeal normally prove sufficient protect government defendant qualified immunity interest standing trial right take multiple interlocutory appeals behrens pelletier normally protect defendant additional interest avoiding pretrial burdens discovery thus question justice scalia pointed whether interest sufficiently important overcome policies militating interlocutory appeals lauro lines supra emphasis added relevant precedent indicates context qualified immunity one thing considering kinds orders warrant interlocutory appeal identified sufficiently important interests considerably important ordinary interest avoiding discovery see stack boyle interest avoiding imprisonment excessive bail clause amdt abney interest avoiding trial double jeopardy clause amdt helstoski meanor interest avoiding trial speech debate clause art puerto rico aqueduct sewer authority metcalf eddy interest avoiding trial eleventh amendment immunity amdt another thing often said trouble expense possible embarrassment associated unnecessary litigation interests rather like qualified immunity interest justify interlocutory appeal see digital equipment supra slip interlocutory review orders refusing enforce settlement agreement lauro lines interlocutory review orders refusing enforce forum selection clause van cauwenberghe biard interlocutory review orders refusing dismiss civil suit grounds immunity civil process forum non conveniens litigants able behrens pelletier routinely vindicate immediate appeal legal right avoid discovery wright miller pp even constitution provides right see maness meyers interlocutory appeal order refusing quash subpoena materials arguably violated subpoenaed party fifth amendment privilege although litigant sometimes appeal adverse discovery ruling litigant typically must disobey discovery order appeal resulting citation contempt church scientology cal maness supra ryan cobbledick wright miller pp see nixon allowing president nixon appeal discovery order without first incurring contempt citation traditional contempt avenue immediate appeal peculiarly inappropriate disobedience contempt requirement somewhat analogous limitation works part encourages reconsideration party resisting discovery party seeking discovery part tends limit appeals issues important reasonably likely lead reversal wright miller see also pennsylvania ritchie disobedience contempt procedure rests implicit assumption unless party resisting discovery willing risk held contempt significance claim insufficient justify interrupting ongoing proceedings seems highly anomalous law deny routine interlocutory appeal constitution protects interest behrens pelletier permit routine appeal legal doctrine qualified immunity protects similar interest yet today holding either create anomaly likely generate many new interlocutory appeals lower courts apply principle wherever constitution important legal doctrine offers litigant special protection majority suggests importance interest protected qualified immunity already settled precedents mitchell forsyth harlow fitzgerald see ante slip cases say qualified immunity defense modern formulation meant part protect public officials discovery peculiarly disruptive effective government anderson creighton quoting harlow supra decision mitchell district orders denying qualified immunity immediately appealable concerned primarily preserving defendants immunity trial discovery see heart issue us question whether qualified immunity fact entitlement stand trial see also van cauwenberghe supra critical question following mitchell whether essence claimed right right stand trial never suggested much less settled government defendant interest independent interest avoiding trial important must safeguarded interlocutory appellate review finally individual members recent years cautioned expanding class orders eligible interlocutory appeal see digital equipment desktop direct slip souter narrow behrens pelletier exception stay way never allowed swallow general rule gulfstream aerospace mayacamas scalia concurring finality jurisprudence sorely need limiting principles cohen appeals originally announced small class decisions important denied review koller decline transform limited exception carved cohen license broad disregard finality rule imposed congress quoting firestone tire rubber risjord caution seem especially appropriate considering one interlocutory appeal single case two iii several important practical considerations also favor limiting number interlocutory qualified immunity appeals one majority finds necessary special harm fact qualified immunity doctrine protects public officials discovery well trial finds separability fact summary judgment motion likely asks legal question conceptually distinct legal question posed motion dismiss complaint given rationale one limit number appeals one two principle justify several appeals discovery proceeding stages continuously turns new facts close plaintiff case immediate appeal avoid litigation burden presenting entire defense case still even two pretrial appeals risk justice story called great delays oppressive expenses canter american ins pet behrens pelletier ossify civil rights litigation abel miller easterbrook defendant present case example far spent four years seven since complaint filing fighting interlocutory appeal case might well quickly easily either trial appeal initially adverse judgment merits cf pelletier federal home loan bank san francisco expressing doubt plaintiff complaint survive summary judgment motion concede every added interlocutory appeal serve interests underlie qualified immunity extent help government defendant terminate meritless litigation added appeal likely serve interests degree posing threat appearance justice civil rights cases see coopers lybrand livesay immediate appeal prejudgment order denying class certification part appeals operat favor plaintiffs mentioned majority rationale threatens added appeals simply qualified immunity cases wherever doctrine important legal rule seeks protect litigants trial see puerto rico aqueduct sewer authority metcalf eddy eleventh amendment immunity nixon fitzgerald absolute immunity abney double jeopardy guarantee successive prosecutions thereby threatens busy appellate courts added numbers essentially similar repetitive appeals time overloaded dockets threaten federal appellate system see remarks chief justice william rehnquist tenth annual judicial conference behrens pelletier appeals federal circuit apr one chief needs generation deal current appellate capacity crisis federal courts appeals argue existence crisis born spiraling federal filings increased tendency appeal district decisions judicial conference long range plan federal courts conditions seriously deteriorate courts appeals may necessary consider limitations right appeal see generally baker rationing justice appeal problems courts appeals finally practical matter benefits immediate appellate review predominate individual case party still seek leave appeal immediately permitting immediate review nonfinal orders involve controlling controversial question law appellate resolution may materially advance ultimate termination litigation frequently observed availability review counsels expanding judicial exceptions rule piecemeal appeals see swint chambers county slip digital equipment supra slip van cauwenberghe biard supra firestone tire rubber supra coopers lybrand supra see also parkinson april industries friendly concurring especially reluctant identify new categories collateral orders congress adding rules enabling act designat ed rulemaking process way behrens pelletier define refine district ruling final interlocutory order appealable swint supra slip iv sum purpose precedent practicality argue one interlocutory qualified immunity appeal per case believe following mitchell simply hold qualified immunity interests important enough justify one interlocutory appeal important enough justify two necessary argue whether defendant waived second appeal see kaiter boxford since matter turns importance conclusiveness need decide timing interlocutory appeal affects finality trial denial motion dismiss complaint see ante slip rather defendant asserting qualified immunity remain free present appeal denial motion dismiss complaint defendant wait move summary judgment appeal motion denial either interest asserted first pretrial appeal insufficiently important possibility remains second pretrial appeal interest asserted second pretrial appeal insufficiently important already first pretrial appeal said precedent permits result precedent importance interest interlocutory appeal needed protect one necessary requirement application technical legal labels final collateral order importantly meaning law depends upon understanding purpose law words however technical may sound magic formulas must read behrens pelletier light purposes avoid essentially arbitrary applications harmful results reasons set forth precedent read way permit requires single interlocutory appeal therefore dissent page