United States v. Azat Martirossian

SUTTON, Circuit Judge.

Federal courts do not play "catch me if you can." If a defendant refuses to show up to answer an indictment, ignores an arrest warrant, or leaves the jurisdiction, the court may decline to resolve any objections to the indictment in his absence. What is known loosely as the fugitive disentitlement doctrine generally permits a federal court to insist on a defendant's presence in the jurisdiction before it resolves challenges to the criminal charges.

*886 Azat Martirossian, a citizen of Armenia now living in China, refused to answer criminal charges in the Southern District of…