moses cone hospital mercury constr argued november decided february petitioner hospital located north carolina entered contract respondent contractor alabama corporation construction additions hospital building contract disputes initially referred architect hired design oversee construction project disputes decided architect decided within specified time submitted binding arbitration arbitration clause contract subsequently construction respondent submitted claims architect extended overhead increase construction costs due petitioner delay inaction claims resolved petitioner refused pay petitioner filed action north carolina state respondent architect seeking declaratory judgment right arbitration petitioner liable respondent liable entitled indemnity architect days later petitioner obtained ex parte injunction state forbidding respondent take steps toward arbitration respondent objected stay dissolved respondent filed action federal district seeking order compelling arbitration arbitration act district stayed action pending resolution suit two suits involved identical issue arbitrability respondent claims appeals holding jurisdiction reversed district stay order remanded case instructions enter order arbitrate held district stay order appealable final decision appeals since order based conclusion federal state actions involved identical issue arbitrability issue substantive issue present federal action stay federal action pending resolution state action meant litigation federal thus respondent effectively stay order amounted dismissal federal action moreover even stay order final appealability purposes nevertheless appealable within finality rule exception applies order conclusively determines disputed question resolves important issue completely separate merits effectively unreviewable appeal final judgment cohen beneficial loan pp district abused discretion granting stay pp federal district may decline exercise jurisdiction parallel litigation exceptional circumstances clearest justifications warrant dismissal colorado river water conservation district decision whether stay dismiss federal action grounds wise judicial administration rest mechanical checklist careful balancing important factors first assumed jurisdiction property involved litigation inconvenience federal forum avoidance piecemeal litigation order concurrent forums obtained jurisdiction relevant decision apply given case balance heavily weighted favor exercise jurisdiction ibid pp test set forth colorado river supra undermined calvert fire insurance pp showing requisite exceptional circumstances justify district stay order concededly assumption either jurisdiction res property contention federal less convenient parties state factors avoidance piecemeal litigation order current forums obtained jurisdiction rather supporting stay counsel fact respondent obtains arbitration order petitioner forced resolve dispute respondent related dispute architect different forums result choice federal state courts occurs relevant federal law arbitration act requires piecemeal resolution necessary give effect arbitration agreement hence decision allow issue arbitrability decided federal rather state cause piecemeal resolution parties underlying disputes fact suit filed federal suit sufficient reason justify stay order petitioner refusal arbitrate occur less day filed state suit respondent reasonable opportunity file federal suit first moreover priority measured exclusively complaint filed first rather terms much progress made two actions substantial proceedings taken place state suit time district stay order whereas federal suit parties taken steps necessary resolution arbitrability issue stay order thus frustrated arbitration act policy rapid unobstructed enforcement arbitration agreements pp fact federal law terms arbitration act governs issue arbitrability dispute petitioner respondent either state federal another factor militating district stay order see calvert supra pp finally important reason allowing stay probable inadequacy state suit protect respondent rights since doubtful respondent obtain state order compelling petitioner arbitrate pp fact district stayed federal action rather dismissing outright render colorado river test inapplicable pp appeals acted within authority deciding contractual dispute arbitrable arbitration act contract briefs evidentiary submissions parties merits arbitrability brennan delivered opinion white marshall blackmun powell stevens joined rehnquist filed dissenting opinion burger joined post jack floyd argued cause petitioner briefs stephen millikin douglas ey gaede argued cause respondent brief joseph mays charles nichols frank mcfadden justice brennan delivered opinion case commenced petition order compel arbitration arbitration act arbitration act act presents question whether light policies act decisions colorado river water conservation district calvert fire insurance district middle district north carolina properly stayed diversity action pending resolution concurrent suit appeals fourth circuit reversed stay rehearing denied granted certiorari affirm petitioner moses cone memorial hospital hospital located greensboro respondent mercury construction mercury construction contractor principal place business alabama july mercury hospital entered contract construction additions hospital building contract drafted representatives hospital included provisions resolving disputes arising contract breach disputes involving interpretation contract performance construction work referred first instance pease associates architect independent architectural firm hired hospital design oversee construction project certain stated exceptions dispute decided architect decided within stated time submitted either party binding arbitration broad arbitration clause contract claims disputes matters question arising relating contract breach thereof shall decided arbitration accordance construction industry arbitration rules american arbitration association obtaining unless parties mutually agree otherwise agreement arbitrate shall specifically enforceable prevailing arbitration law award rendered arbitrators shall final judgment may entered upon accordance applicable law jurisdiction thereof app construction project began july performance completed october fact construction substantially completed february final inspections made june meeting october construction attended representatives mercury hospital architect mercury agreed architect request withhold claims delay impact costs claims extended overhead increase construction costs due delay inaction hospital work substantially completed record hospital contest existence agreement although asserts architect lacked authority agree delay presentation claims entertain claims contract work completed january mercury submitted architect claims delay impact costs mercury architect discussed claims several months substantially reducing amount claims according hospital first learned existence mercury claims april lawyers assumed active participation claim procedure may parties differ characterizations events next months whether ongoing negotiations merely investigation hospital event appears record lawyers hospital requested additional information concerning mercury claims result august mercury gave detailed presentation claims meeting attended mercury representatives lawyers hospital representatives lawyers representatives architect mercury agreed send copies files expert hired hospital parties agreed meet october october mercury counsel telephoned hospital counsel confirm scheduled meeting go forward hospital counsel said call back next day informed mercury counsel hospital pay nothing mercury claim also said hospital intended file declaratory judgment action north carolina state true word hospital filed action morning october superior guilford county naming mercury architect defendants complaint alleged mercury claim without factual legal basis barred statute limitations alleged mercury lost right arbitration contract due waiver laches estoppel failure make timely demand arbitration complaint also alleged various delinquencies part architect relief hospital sought declaration right arbitration stay arbitration declaration hospital bore liability mercury declaration hospital found liable respect mercury entitled indemnity architect complaint served mercury october day mercury counsel mailed demand arbitration october without notice mercury hospital obtained ex parte injunction state forbidding mercury take steps directed toward arbitration mercury objected stay dissolved october soon stay lifted mercury filed present action district seeking order compelling arbitration arbitration act jurisdiction based diversity citizenship hospital motion district stayed mercury suit pending resolution suit two suits involved identical issue arbitrability mercury claims app pet cert mercury sought review district stay notice appeal petition mandamus panel appeals fourth circuit heard argument case panel issued decision informed parties consider case en banc reargument en banc held appellate jurisdiction case reversed district stay order remanded case district instructions entry order arbitrate ii address propriety district judge stay order must first decide whether order appealable appeals mercury sought appellate review two alternative routes notice appeal petition mandamus writs act mercury expressly stated appeal based relating interlocutory appeals hospital contends order appealed final decisio within disagree hold stay order final purposes appellate jurisdiction idlewild liquor epstein instructive regard plaintiff brought federal suit challenging constitutionality state statute district judge declined convene stayed federal suit pullman abstention doctrine held district action final therefore reviewable appeals stating appeals properly rejected argument order district final hence unappealable pointing ppellant effectively event district order final appealability purposes nevertheless appealable within exception finality rule cohen beneficial loan factors required show finality exception summarized follows come within small class decisions excepted rule cohen order must conclusively determine disputed question resolve important issue completely separate merits action effectively unreviewable appeal final judgment coopers lybrand livesay omitted hospital contends nevertheless district stay order meet first criteria namely conclusively determine disputed question true technical sense every order short final decree subject reopening discretion district judge case however basis suppose district judge contemplated reconsideration decision defer parallel suit surely made decision first instance unless expected state resolve relevant issues adequately see part infra clear judge chose stay case rather dismiss outright record shows reason form hospital motion whatever reason however practical effect order entirely present purposes order appealable iii turn principal issue addressed namely propriety district decision stay federal suit deference parallel litigation brought state colorado river water conservation district provides persuasive guidance deciding question colorado river involved effect mccarran amendment stat existence exercise jurisdiction adjudicate federal water rights amendment waives government sovereign immunity permit joinder suits adjudication water rights colorado river however government proceeded federal district bringing suit nonfederal water users seeking declaration water rights certain federal entities indian tribes shortly thereafter defendant suit sought join proceeding comprehensive adjudication administration water rights within river system subject suit district dismissed federal suit holding abstention doctrine required deference proceedings appeals tenth circuit reversed holding suit within district jurisdiction abstention inappropriate reversed judgment appeals affirmed judgment district dismissing complaint began analysis examining abstention doctrine various forms noted abstention exercise federal jurisdiction exception rule doctrine abstention district may decline exercise postpone exercise jurisdiction extraordinary narrow exception duty district adjudicate controversy properly abdication obligation decide cases justified doctrine exceptional circumstances order parties repair state clearly serve important countervailing interest nevertheless held district dismissal proper another ground one resting considerations comity avoidance constitutional decisions abstention considerations ise judicial administration giving regard conservation judicial resources comprehensive disposition litigation noted pendency action state bar proceedings concerning matter federal jurisdiction federal courts virtually unflagging obligation exercise jurisdiction given continued given obligation absence weightier considerations constitutional adjudication relations circumstances permitting dismissal federal suit due presence concurrent state proceeding reasons wise judicial administration considerably limited circumstances appropriate abstention former circumstances though exceptional nevertheless exist held example first assuming jurisdiction property may exercise jurisdiction exclusion courts assessing appropriateness dismissal event exercise concurrent jurisdiction federal may also consider factors inconvenience federal forum desirability avoiding piecemeal litigation order jurisdiction obtained concurrent forums one factor necessarily determinative carefully considered judgment taking account obligation exercise jurisdiction combination factors counselling exercise required clearest justifications warrant dismissal emphasis added citations omitted discussing application colorado river test must address hospital argument test undermined subsequent decision calvert fire insurance find merit argument least two reasons hospital relies opinion justice rehnquist announcing judgment hospital argues justice rehnquist opinion expressly overruling colorado river least modifies holding substantially clear majority reaffirmed colorado river test calvert justice rehnquist opinion commanded four votes opposed dissenting opinion four justices concluded calvert district stay impermissible colorado river brennan joined burger marshall powell dissenting justice blackmun although concurring judgment agreed dissent colorado river test controlling voted remand permit district apply colorado river factors first instance remand appeals correctly recognized four dissenting justices justice blackmun formed majority require application colorado river test calvert fire insurance even basis justice rehnquist opinion however obvious distinction calvert case key calvert standard issuance writ mandamus justice rehnquist stressed extraordinary writs used aid appellate jurisdiction confine inferior lawful exercise prescribed authority compel exercise authority duty movant must show right writ clear indisputable opinion rehnquist justice rehnquist concluded movant calvert failed meet burden time noted movant might succeeded proper appeal case held appeals appellate jurisdiction properly exercised jurisdiction find district stay impermissible colorado river hospital contends calvert requires reversal opinions justice rehnquist justice blackmun require greater deference discretion district given appeals case calvert colorado river course decision whether defer state courts necessarily left discretion district first instance yet say district discretion say decision unreviewable discretion must exercised relevant standard prescribed case relevant standard colorado river test elucidated factors discussed case shall explain agree appeals district case abused discretion granting stay iv applying colorado river factors case clear showing requisite exceptional circumstances justify district stay hospital concedes first two factors mentioned colorado river present assumption either jurisdiction res property contention federal forum less convenient parties state forum remaining factors avoidance piecemeal litigation order jurisdiction obtained concurrent forums far supporting stay actually counsel force consideration paramount colorado river danger piecemeal litigation hospital points two substantive disputes one mercury concerning mercury claim delay impact costs architect concerning hospital claim indemnity liability may mercury latter dispute sent arbitration without architect consent since arbitration agreement hospital architect true therefore mercury obtains arbitration order dispute hospital forced resolve related disputes different forums misfortune however result choice federal state courts occurs relevant federal law requires piecemeal resolution necessary give effect arbitration agreement arbitration act arbitration agreement must enforced notwithstanding presence persons parties underlying dispute arbitration agreement dispute mercury hospital arbitrable act hospital two disputes resolved separately one arbitration litigation conversely dispute mercury hospital arbitrable disputes resolved state neither two outcomes depends decides question arbitrability hence decision allow issue decided federal rather state cause piecemeal resolution parties underlying disputes although hospital litigate arbitrability issue federal rather state dispute easily severable merits underlying disputes order concurrent tribunals obtained exercised jurisdiction cuts district stay case hospital argues stay proper suit filed days federal suit first place argument disregards obvious reason hospital priority filing indispensable element mercury cause action arbitration order hospital refusal arbitrate see infra refusal occur less day hospital filed state suit hence mercury simply reasonable opportunity file petition first moreover hospital succeeded obtaining ex parte injunction state forbidding mercury take steps secure arbitration mercury filed petition day injunction dissolved aside hospital priority argument gives mechanical reading priority element colorado river balance factor colorado river factors applied pragmatic flexible manner view realities case hand thus priority measured exclusively complaint filed first rather terms much progress made two actions colorado river illustrates point well federal suit actually filed first nevertheless pointed factor favoring dismissal apparent absence proceedings district filing complaint prior motion dismiss opposite true suit substantial proceedings excepting abortive temporary injunction taken place time decision stay federal suit contrast parties taken steps necessary resolution arbitrability issue realistic terms federal suit running well ahead state suit time district decided refuse adjudicate case refusal proceed plainly erroneous view congress clear intent arbitration act move parties arbitrable dispute arbitration quickly easily possible act provides two parallel devices enforcing arbitration agreement stay litigation case raising dispute referable arbitration affirmative order engage arbitration sections call expeditious summary hearing restricted inquiry factual issues assuming state granted prompt relief mercury act still inevitable delay result district stay stay thus frustrated statutory policy rapid unobstructed enforcement arbitration agreements besides four factors expressly discussed colorado river another emerges calvert fact federal law provides rule decision merits factor ambiguous relevance colorado river calvert however dissenting opinion justice blackmun opinion concurring judgment pointed case involved issues federal law blackmun concurring judgment brennan dissenting see also colorado river equally apparent case involves federal issues basic issue presented mercury federal suit arbitrability dispute mercury hospital federal law terms arbitration act governs issue either state federal section primary substantive provision act declaring written agreement arbitrate maritime transaction contract evidencing transaction involving commerce shall valid irrevocable enforceable save upon grounds exist law equity revocation contract section congressional declaration liberal federal policy favoring arbitration agreements notwithstanding state substantive procedural policies contrary effect section create body federal substantive law arbitrability applicable arbitration agreement within coverage act prima paint flood conklin mfg example parties signed contract containing arbitration clause one party alleged fraud inducement entire contract although alleged fraud go arbitration clause particular issue us whether issue fraud inducement arbitrable controversy held language policies act required conclusion fraud issue arbitrable although holding prima paint extended specific issue presented courts appeals since consistently concluded questions arbitrability must addressed healthy regard federal policy favoring arbitration agree arbitration act establishes matter federal law doubts concerning scope arbitrable issues resolved favor arbitration whether problem hand construction contract language allegation waiver delay like defense arbitrability sure factor less significance calvert since federal courts jurisdiction enforce arbitration act concurrent state courts emphasize task cases find substantial reason exercise federal jurisdiction district rather task ascertain whether exist exceptional circumstances clearest justifications suffice colorado river justify surrender jurisdiction although rare circumstances presence issues may weigh favor surrender see supra presence issues must always major consideration weighing surrender finally case important reason allowing stay probable inadequacy proceeding protect mercury rights understood impeach competence procedures north carolina courts moreover state courts much federal courts obliged grant stays litigation arbitration act less clear however whether true order compel arbitration act need resolve question suffices say minimum substantial room doubt mercury obtain state order compelling hospital arbitrate many cases doubt stay quite adequate protect right arbitration case party opposing arbitration one payment performance sought stay litigation alone enough leaves recalcitrant party free sit nothing neither litigate arbitrate state stayed litigation pending arbitration declined compel hospital arbitrate mercury sure way proceed claims except return federal obtain order pointless wasteful burden supposedly summary speedy procedures prescribed arbitration act hospital argues colorado river test somehow inapplicable case district merely stayed federal litigation rather dismissing suit outright colorado river contends mercury remains free seek reopen federal suit showing state suit failed adjudicate rights stay less onerous dismissal already rejected distinction purposes case discussing appellate jurisdiction supra reject context reasons occasion case decide whether dismissal stay ordinarily preferred course action district properly finds colorado river counsels favor deferring parallel suit say however stay much refusal exercise federal jurisdiction dismissal district decides dismiss stay colorado river presumably concludes parallel litigation adequate vehicle complete prompt resolution issues parties substantial doubt serious abuse discretion grant stay dismissal see part supra mcneese board education thus decision invoke colorado river necessarily contemplates federal nothing resolving substantive part case whether stays dismisses see wright miller cooper federal practice procedure pp moreover assuming unexpected reason state forum turn inadequate respect hospital argument fails make genuine difference stay dismissal true mercury seek return federal proved necessary equally true district dismissed case highly questionable whether approved dismissal federal suit colorado river abstention cases see supra federal courts remain open dismissed plaintiff later demonstrated inadequacy state forum addition reversing district stay appeals decided underlying contractual dispute mercury hospital arbitrable arbitration act terms parties arbitration agreement reversed district judgment remanded case directions proceed conformity herewith effect appeals directed district enter order arbitrate hospital contest substantive correctness appeals holding arbitrability raise several objections procedures appeals used considering deciding case particular points issue formally appealed appeals propriety district stay order ordinarily expect appeals pass issues decided district present case however disposed disturb discretion handling case view special interests stake apparent lack prejudice parties title gives appeals latitude entering order achieve justice circumstances arbitration act calls summary speedy disposition motions petitions enforce arbitration clauses appeals record full briefs evidentiary submissions parties merits arbitrability held disputed issues fact requiring jury trial order issue circumstances acted within authority deciding legal issues presented order facilitate prompt arbitration congress envisaged affirmed footnotes contract provided demand arbitration made later days architect written final decision case arbitrable disputes subject submission architect demand required made within reasonable time claim arisen event applicable statute limitations run contract also set starting time limit arbitration demands demand made earlier days presentation evidence architect unless architect rendered written decision time completion date originally set november extended october agreement parties simultaneously mercury filed petition removal hospital action district remanded removed case ground hospital architect north carolina corporations complete diversity propriety removal remand section provides relevant part courts appeals shall jurisdiction appeals final decisions district courts except direct review may hospital argues mercury filing appeals styled petition mandamus first notice appeal alternative hospital somehow entitled appeals apply stricter standards review obtain mandamus procedure considering appeal brief petitioner understand order proceeding benefit hospital event contention frivolous first place mercury also filed proper notice appeal district see fed rule app proc fundamentally appeals occasion engage extraordinary review mandamus aid jurisdictio exercise review contemporaneous ordinary appeal see hines railroad pullman plaintiff idlewild requested injunctive relief enforcement state statute nevertheless clear neither appeals based holding appealability argument district effectively denied injunctive relief see generally carson american brands section terms applies interlocutory orders therefore hardly basis holding orders final basis dissent attempt post distinguish idlewild basis case pending action district stay issued neither appeals suggested idlewild state doors anything wide open plaintiff ffectively means effectively federal keeping fact decision appeal refusal exercise federal jurisdiction moreover dissent resolution appealability issue yield odd result pullman abstention orders immediately appealable texas compare american trial lawyers assn new jersey stays appropriate pullman cases harris county commissioners moore dismissal permissible accommodate texas jurisdictional requirements oddity illustrates artificiality resting appealability otherwise substanceless distinction stays dismissals present context see part infra see england louisiana bd medical examiners see ultracashmere house meyer merrill lynch pierce fenner smith haydu see citing dispositive amdur lizars see also federman empire fire marine insurance baltimore bank cooperatives farmers cheese cooperative sun oil fea temp emerg app rancho palos verdes laguna beach hines supra drexler southwest dubois school en banc druker sullivan see acton borden state farm mutual automobile insurance scholes frederick thomas dictum course cases recognize idlewild disturb usual rule stay ordinarily final decision purposes since stays put plaintiff effectively see amdur supra idlewild reasoning limited cases colorado river abstention closely similar doctrine object stay require essential part federal suit litigated state forum answers dissent argument post idlewild overruled part coopers lybrand livesay rejected death knell doctrine appealability death knell doctrine rested argument situations interlocutory decision refusal certify class might terminate suit practical matter named plaintiff lack economic incentive pursue individual claim death knell case however order sought appealed legal effect named plaintiff ability proceed individual claim federal obvious difference case plaintiff may choose proceed case district refuses allow plaintiff litigate claim federal appeal stay abstention colorado river grounds therefore presents prospect appeals right nonfinal orders turn facts particular case coopers lybrand supra foresee great difficulty determining district surrendered jurisdiction federal lawsuit much reason dissent errs likening stay case ordinary delay interest docket control post hold order becomes final merely may practical effect allowing state first rule common issue hold stay order final sole purpose effect stay precisely surrender jurisdiction federal suit state accord firestone tire rubber risjord macdonald abney completely separate merits requirement distillation principle piecemeal review steps towards final judgment merge cohen beneficial loan case course step towards final judgment refusal proceed see fed rule civ proc wright miller cooper federal practice procedure pp coopers lybrand held cohen rule apply class decertification order among reasons order inherently tentative federal rule civil procedure provides order may altered amended decision merits course rule provides virtually interlocutory orders may altered amended final judgment sufficient cause shown yet make pretrial orders inherently tentative sense phrase coopers lybrand rationale behind rule certification decision made soon practicable even though later events discoveries may mandate different result many orders contrast made expectation final word subject addressed certainly true order issue case reasoning coopers lybrand reach pretrial orders formally subject revision revision might reasonably expected ordinary course litigation quoting county allegheny frank mashuda contention categories abstention doctrine apply case quoting kerotest mfg fire equipment quoting mcclellan carland decision colorado river came district stay order calvert appeals issued mandamus case remand decision calvert district appeals concluded stay continued rested decision ground addressed prior appeals decision calvert fire insurance opinions case concluded filing federal suit defensive tactical maneuver based contrived federal claim hence stay called means deter vexatious use federal courts courts also noted interim basis plaintiff assertion exclusive federal jurisdiction vanished calvert fire insurance american mutual reinsurance supp nd case come review second time appeals case relied similar reasoning concluded despite chronological priority filing hospital suit contrived defensive reaction mercury expected claim relief arbitration reasoning courts appeals case calvert vexatious reactive nature either federal state litigation may influence decision whether defer parallel state litigation colorado river considerable merit need rely reasoning however conclude infra even hospital acted complete good faith exceptional circumstances warranting district stay appeals calvert held lacked jurisdiction entertain ordinary appeal apparently portion federal litigation subject exclusive federal jurisdiction therefore remain disposed federal conclusion proceedings calvert fire insurance citing cotler orthopaedic cf drexler southwest dubois school stay litigation pending exhaustion state remedies final idlewild issue appellate jurisdiction presented calvert provides sharp contrast key statute issue colorado river mccarran amendment stressed primary policy statute avoidance piecemeal litigation itoh jordan international acevedo maldonado ppg industries hamilton life insurance republic national life insurance cases course may advisable stay litigation among nonarbitrating parties pending outcome arbitration decision one left district state trial applicable state procedural rules matter discretion control docket see generally landis north american course mean say state injunction properly applied prevent mercury filing prosecuting federal lawsuit see general atomic felter donovan city dallas mercury obliged however put danger contempt sanctions merely order cut short period hospital priority filing see also supra arbitration act mercury application order properly treated procedurally motion mercury submitted affidavits legal briefs documentary evidence support order sought hospital responded full briefing extensive evidentiary submissions arbitrability issue requested oral argument jury trial time made successful motion stay readily apparent district denied stay doubtless gone decide arbitrability point short order section provides suit brought merits dispute covered arbitration agreement suit pending upon satisfied issue involved suit proceeding referable arbitration agreement shall application one parties stay trial action arbitration accordance terms agreement providing applicant stay default proceeding arbitration section provides district must enter order arbitrate upon satisfied making agreement arbitration failure comply therewith issue either points issue provides shall proceed summarily trial point section provides request relief either treated procedurally motion moreover policy arbitration act requires liberal reading arbitration agreements see infra result issues might thought relevant arbitrability arbitrable speeding procedure see prima paint flood conklin mfg see infra cf nn infra although dissenting justices colorado river relied point see majority concluded law point controlling two reasons first affirmative policy federal law expressly approving litigation federal water rights state mccarran amendment second although water rights indian tribes governed part federal law bulk litigation necessarily revolve around water rights thousand nonfederal parties case factor expressly relied approving district stay maritime transactions commerce defined arbitration act dickinson heinold securities wick atlantic marine becker autoradio becker autoradiowerk gmbh hanes millard app acevedo maldonado ppg industries germany river terminal coenen pressprich hart orion insurance see infra arbitration act something anomaly field jurisdiction creates body federal substantive law establishing regulating duty honor agreement arbitrate yet create independent jurisdiction supp otherwise section provides order compelling arbitration federal district jurisdiction suit underlying dispute hence must diversity citizenship independent basis federal jurisdiction order issue commercial metals balfour guthrie cases cited section likewise limits federal courts extent federal stay suit pending unless suit existence nevertheless although enforcement act left large part state courts nevertheless represents federal policy vindicated federal courts otherwise appropriate need address whether federal might stay suit pending arbitration cf supra although refers ambiguously suit courts state courts almost unanimously recognized stay provision applies suits state well federal courts requiring issue speedy relief dispute referable arbitration north carolina held although district ordered stay burke county public schools board education shaver partnership necessary carry congress intent mandate enforcement covered arbitration agreements congress hardly meant agreement arbitrate enforced party attempts litigate arbitrable dispute federal one sues dispute state see also prima paint section unlike speaks petition district nonetheless least one state held require state courts issue orders arbitrate section conditions met main merrill lynch pierce fenner smith cal app cal rptr historical matter considerable doubt time district stay north carolina granted even stay litigation precedent north carolina effect contract mercury hospital subject arbitration act reasoning construction project commerce within meaning act burke county public schools board education shaver partnership app electric durham county hospital app north carolina however since repudiated decisions burke county public schools board education shaver partnership reservation course applies cases colorado river american trial lawyers assn new jersey stay rather dismissal pullman abstention justice rehnquist chief justice justice join dissenting zeal provide arbitration party thinks deserving made exception established rules procedure attempt cast district decision final judgment fails justice meaning word final act congress limits jurisdiction courts appeals district judges administer laws first instance district stayed proceeding set trial date two months away doubt order interlocutory subject review mandamus pursuant true even though arbitration act provides shall proceed summarily trial order setting trial date guides course litigation force dispose merits order tentative subject change time motion party sua sponte order district actually entered final delayed proceedings completion pending litigation state courts order also tentative subject change showing state proceedings delayed either hospital state courts applying federal act reason change arisen order dispose case merits state found agreement arbitrate within meaning arbitration act district bound finding res judicata collateral estoppel apply state reached decision district absence stay likelihood state competent jurisdiction may enter judgment may determine issue case render final federal district decision take recess order additional briefing parties five days five months take case advisement rather render immediate decision bench possibility magically change character order district judge entered case section judicial code congressional command federal courts appeals interfere district courts management ongoing proceedings unless high standards writ mandamus met district certifies interlocutory appeal pursuant congress directed district courts permitted conduct cases see fit reason rule simple since right judgment one matter grace necessary ingredient justice congress beginning forbidding piecemeal disposition appeal practical purposes single controversy set enfeebling judicial administration thereby avoided obstruction claims come permitting harassment cost succession separate appeals various rulings litigation may give rise initiation entry judgment effective judicial administration must momentum arrested permitting separate reviews component elements unified cause cobbledick frankfurter unanimous acknowledged importance rule finality recently coopers lybrand livesay rejected called death knell exception coopers putative representative plaintiff whose motion class certification denied district sought appeal accepted argument order effectively put held circumstance justify exception statute llowing appeals right nonfinal orders turn facts particular case thrusts appellate courts indiscriminately trial process thus defeats one vital purpose rule maintaining appropriate relationship respective courts goal absence compelling reasons contrary much worth preserving quoting parkinson april industries concurring opinion given sound principled justification permitting appeals thrust trial process case begins citing idlewild liquor epstein district stayed action challenging constitutionality state statute give state courts opportunity pass upon constitutional issues presented although relevant litigation pending state courts held order appealable plaintiff effectively idlewild control case first mercury less effectively idlewild pending state proceeding might resolved issues case idlewild might well obliged take risk violating statute challenging enforcement proceeding state importantly however decision idlewild good law coopers supra describes coopers holding doctrine cohen beneficial loan apply class decertification order federal rule civil procedure ante hold doctrine applicable decertification order went reject argument decertification order final death knell doctrine holding order become final simply plaintiff unable pursue claim order stands declined attach importance fact plaintiff coopers effectively idlewild mercury noted death knell doctrine merit apply equally many interlocutory orders ordinary litigation may tactical economic significance defeat tantamount death knell entire case also noted provides review certain nonfinal orders death knell doctrine circumvents restrictions ignoring discussion holding coopers created unjustified exception also stay order case appealable cohen supra quotes formulation cohen doctrine coopers order must conclusively determine disputed question resolve important issue completely separate merits action effectively unreviewable appeal final judgment quoted ante furthermore certain staying case district resolved important issue issue deemed important purposes simply appeals thinks appellant prevail issue whether factual question whether agreement arbitrate adjudicated state federal unless reason believe state resolve factual question wrongly quite rightly disclaims ante see issue important interlocutory order may place litigant procedural disadvantage reasons believe district order appealable interlocutory orders committed statute judgment district courts judges courts majority litigants devising exceptions statute believes particular litigant wronged given view appealability find necessary decide whether district order proper case disturbed however sanctioned extraordinary departure usual accepted course judicial proceedings affirming appeals decision issue decided district appeals ordered district enter order compelling arbitration even though issue considered district maintained difference appellate jurisdiction original jurisdiction least since marbury madison cranch essential criterion appellate jurisdiction revises corrects proceedings case already instituted understand say appeals discretion perform nonappellate act relies provides appeals may affirm modify vacate set aside reverse judgment decree order lawfully brought review may remand cause direct entry appropriate judgment decree order require proceedings may circumstances reason believe district acted promptly resolve dispute merits reversed stay judges appeals believe know case decided reason substitute judgment district judge without regard normal course appellate procedure judgment vacated case remanded appeals directions dismiss appeal want jurisdiction failing even correct stay order error judgment reversed insofar decides question arbitrability case remanded district proceedings arbitration act practical matter clear appeals course provided arbitration quickly district even granted certiorari appeals correct dispute plainly arbitrable reason expect state courts resolved issue months case appeals