Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19068992 | LIGHT GUIDE DEVICE, OPTICAL DISPLAY SYSTEM AND DISPLAY DEVICE | March 2025 | August 2025 | Allow | 5 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 19037440 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BREATH-HOLD MONITORING IN DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES | January 2025 | September 2025 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18900208 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BREATH-HOLD MONITORING IN DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES | September 2024 | November 2024 | Allow | 2 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18798945 | OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE DEVICE AND DISPLAY DEVICE | August 2024 | November 2024 | Allow | 3 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18762883 | OPTICAL APERTURE MULTIPLIERS HAVING A RECTANGULAR WAVEGUIDE | July 2024 | February 2025 | Allow | 8 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18738210 | OPTICAL DIELECTRIC PLANAR WAVEGUIDE PROCESS | June 2024 | April 2025 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18733910 | LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT EMPLOYING COMPLEMENTARY COATED PARTIAL REFLECTORS, AND LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT HAVING REDUCED LIGHT SCATTERING | June 2024 | January 2025 | Allow | 8 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18731581 | OPTICAL FIBER SENSOR FOR SHAPE SENSING, OPTICAL SHAPE SENSING DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD | June 2024 | March 2025 | Allow | 9 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18674376 | DIRECTIONALLY TUNABLE OPTICAL REFLECTOR | May 2024 | December 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18668826 | MULTI-FIBER FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR | May 2024 | June 2025 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18665950 | WAFER-SCALE-INTEGRATED SILICON-PHOTONICS-BASED OPTICAL SWITCHING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORMING | May 2024 | November 2024 | Allow | 6 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18653653 | ROTATABLE CAPSULE FOR A FIBER OPTIC ROTARY JOINT | May 2024 | July 2024 | Allow | 2 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18652775 | PACKAGE STRUCTURE HAVING GRATING COUPLER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF | May 2024 | April 2025 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18643993 | BUILDING BLOCK FOR ELECTRO-OPTICAL INTEGRATED INDIUM-PHOSPHIDE BASED PHASE MODULATOR | April 2024 | March 2025 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18630809 | PRE-CONNECTOR AND COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE | April 2024 | November 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18618131 | LITHOGRAPHY-FREE INTEGRATED PHOTONIC FPGA | March 2024 | October 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18592906 | MULTI-TENANT ISOLATION ON A MULTI-RETICLE PHOTONIC COMMUNICATION PLATFORM | March 2024 | November 2024 | Allow | 8 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18590369 | HOLLOW CORE OPTICAL FIBER AND A LASER SYSTEM | February 2024 | January 2025 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18586919 | Photonic Semiconductor Device and Method of Manufacture | February 2024 | September 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18442130 | Optical transceiver arrays | February 2024 | December 2024 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18580337 | OPTICAL FIBER MODULE | January 2024 | February 2026 | Allow | 25 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18409081 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REAL TIME RESPIRATORY GATING SIGNAL GENERATION AND DETECTION OF BODY DEFORMATION USING EMBEDDED FIBER BRAGG GRATINGS | January 2024 | September 2024 | Allow | 8 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18405337 | WAFER-LEVEL ETCHED FACET FOR PERPENDICULAR COUPLING OF LIGHT FROM A SEMICONDUCTOR LASER DEVICE | January 2024 | January 2025 | Allow | 12 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18403882 | DIFFRACTIVE OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE AND DISPLAY DEVICE | January 2024 | March 2024 | Allow | 3 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18402034 | EFFICIENT PHOTONIC COUPLERS FOR PHOTONIC WAVEGUIDES AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME | January 2024 | March 2026 | Allow | 26 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18402396 | Breathable Outdoor Network Terminal Enclosure | January 2024 | April 2024 | Allow | 4 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18391135 | BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR FIBER OPTIC CLOSURES AND ORGANIZER ASSEMBLIES | December 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 25 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18391003 | OPTICAL STRUCTURE AND OPTICAL DEVICE | December 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 25 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18531924 | CABLE FIXATION DEVICES AND ARRANGEMENTS WITH IMPROVED INSTALLATION AND SPACE UTILIZATION AT TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENCLOSURES | December 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18524620 | Disinfecting Covers for Functional Connectors of Medical Devices and Methods Thereof | November 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 9 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18563702 | OPTICAL FIBER ALIGNMENT METHOD AND ALIGNMENT DEVICE, AND CONNECTION DEVICE | November 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18389377 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT COMPRISING AN ASSEMBLY OF AN ELECTRONIC CHIP, AN OPTICAL ELEMENT AND A SUBSTRATE AND CORRESPONDING MANUFACTURING METHOD | November 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18505570 | Display Devices with Bridge Emitters and Sensors | November 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 26 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18501429 | LOW COST HARDENED FIBER OPTIC CONNECTION SYSTEM | November 2023 | June 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18499482 | OPTICAL UNIT WITH ATTENUATING PORTION AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME | November 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18384913 | METHODS OF FABRICATION OF COMPOUND LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENTS HAVING EMBEDDED COUPLING-IN REFLECTORS | October 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 23 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18557870 | Integrated Optical Device and Manufacturing Method Thereof | October 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18384802 | ACTIVE PHOTONIC DEVICES INCORPORATING HIGH DIELECTRIC CONSTANT MATERIALS | October 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18494892 | SPLICE TRAY AND FIBER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM | October 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18556732 | SPOT-SIZE CONVERTER AND PHOTONIC DEVICE | October 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18382255 | MODE-SELECTIVE OPTICAL FIBER COUPLERS | October 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 23 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18556611 | POLYSACCHARIDE HYDROGEL OPTICAL FIBERS AND THEIR FABRICATION AND USE | October 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18555920 | LENS UNIT, OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE DEVICE, AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE | October 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18380085 | Integrated Optical Transceiver | October 2023 | June 2024 | Allow | 8 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18486059 | Reflowable Optical Fiber Connector | October 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18286196 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR CLEANING TOOL | October 2023 | March 2026 | Abandon | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18554590 | Wavelength Conversion Device And Manufacturing Method Of Wavelength Conversion Device | October 2023 | March 2026 | Abandon | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18479117 | PACKAGE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME | October 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18479080 | Field Changeable Fiber Optic Connector Polarity Keying | October 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18374337 | ROLLABLE OPTICAL FIBER RIBBON WITH LOW ATTENUATION, LARGE MODE FIELD DIAMETER OPTICAL FIBER AND CABLE | September 2023 | November 2024 | Allow | 13 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18283764 | OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE ELEMENT, OPTICAL MODULATION DEVICE USING OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE ELEMENT, AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE USING OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE ELEMENT | September 2023 | December 2025 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18551616 | FUSION SPLICING DEVICE AND CORE POSITION SPECIFICATION METHOD | September 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18468623 | Display Devices Having Grating Substrates with Sub-Wavelength Patterns | September 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 22 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18244256 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR | September 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18462664 | TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSEMBLY | September 2023 | October 2024 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18242848 | Breathable Outdoor Network Terminal Enclosure | September 2023 | January 2024 | Allow | 5 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18460651 | LENSED FIBER OPTIC FERRULE WITH SIMPLIFIED MOLDING | September 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 25 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18240764 | OPTICAL SYSTEM AND IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE | August 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18547913 | CONTAMINATION-SAFE OPTICAL COUPLING DEVICE | August 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18453442 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HOLDING OPTICAL FIBER AND FIBER ARRAYS VIA VACUUM FOR FIBER ALIGNMENT AND ATTACHING | August 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 26 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18233840 | OPTICAL INTERCONNECT DEVICES | August 2023 | February 2024 | Allow | 6 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18016890 | OPTICAL FIBER CABLE | August 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18227776 | OPTICAL CHIP AND OPTICAL COMMUNICATION APPARATUS | July 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18359498 | OPTICAL SYSTEMS FOR CO-PACKAGED APPLICATIONS | July 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18358153 | MULTI-FIBER FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR | July 2023 | February 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18358033 | SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE | July 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18357458 | DIFFRACTIVE OPTICAL ELEMENT AND TERMINAL DEVICE | July 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18356831 | Integrated 3DIC With Stacked Photonic Dies and Method Forming Same | July 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18261675 | Optical transceiver arrays | July 2023 | January 2024 | Allow | 6 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18271892 | OPTICAL CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH MISMATCHED FIBER PITCH | July 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18271878 | Dual Layer Optical Coupling Configuration Between Photonic Integrated Circuit And External Single Mode Optical Fiber | July 2023 | January 2025 | Allow | 18 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18220015 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING AND SPLICING OPTICAL FIBERS | July 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 23 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18347628 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR, OPTICAL CONNECTOR MODULE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL CONNECTOR | July 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18218624 | LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT EMPLOYING COMPLEMENTARY COATED PARTIAL REFLECTORS, AND LIGHT-GUIDE OPTICAL ELEMENT HAVING REDUCED LIGHT SCATTERING | July 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18346555 | Systems and Methods for Wafer-Level Photonic Testing | July 2023 | February 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18341485 | WAVEGUIDE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE | June 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18269461 | OPTICAL TERMINATION BOX | June 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18212721 | Optical Fiber Connector | June 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18213085 | HOLLOW-CORE FIBER BASED BROADBAND RADIATION GENERATOR WITH EXTENDED FIBER LIFETIME | June 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18337584 | FIBER OPTIC CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH HIGH PACKING DENSITY AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME | June 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18337672 | CONNECTION INTERFACE FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLE ASSEMBLIES AND METHOD OF MAKING SUCH CABLE ASSEMBLIES | June 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18210145 | OPTICAL APERTURE MULTIPLIERS HAVING A RECTANGULAR WAVEGUIDE | June 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18335211 | FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF | June 2023 | January 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18257231 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING ALIGNMENT | June 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18331943 | PACKAGE STRUCTURE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF | June 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18331094 | ECHELLE GRATINGS WITH A SHARED FREE PROPAGATION REGION | June 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18206336 | CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLE | June 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18206343 | WAFER-SCALE-INTEGRATED SILICON-PHOTONICS-BASED OPTICAL SWITCHING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORMING | June 2023 | January 2024 | Allow | 8 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18204994 | OPTICAL EMISSION ASSEMBLY AND OPTICAL MODULE | June 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18327415 | Photonic Semiconductor Device And Method | June 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18324212 | PROTECTIVE RING STRUCTURE TO INCREASE WAVEGUIDE PERFORMANCE | May 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18322297 | COMPACT MICRO ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL ACTUATED RING-RESONATOR | May 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 12 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18252496 | OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE ELEMENT AND OPTICAL AXIS ADJUSTMENT METHOD | May 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18252266 | HEAT DISSIPATER ASSEMBLY | May 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18036152 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING AND SPLICING OPTICAL FIBERS | May 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 23 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18312767 | Photonic Semiconductor Device and Method of Manufacture | May 2023 | November 2023 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18310359 | HYBRID ANTENNA DISTRIBUTION UNIT | May 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18139075 | FEMALE FIBER OPTIC CONNECTORS HAVING A ROCKER LATCH ARM AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME | April 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 23 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18303999 | DUPLEX FIBER OPTIC ASSEMBLY WITH REPOSITIONABLE LATCH HOUSING FOR POLARITY REVERSAL, AND RELATED METHODS | April 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18301648 | HOLLOW CORE OPTICAL FIBER AND A LASER SYSTEM | April 2023 | November 2023 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner RAHLL, JERRY T.
With a 0.0% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals face significant challenges here.
Filing a Notice of Appeal can sometimes lead to allowance even before the appeal is fully briefed or decided by the PTAB. This occurs when the examiner or their supervisor reconsiders the rejection during the mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) after the appeal is filed.
In this dataset, 25.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is below the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal has limited effectiveness in prompting favorable reconsideration.
⚠ Appeals to PTAB face challenges. Ensure your case has strong merit before committing to full Board review.
⚠ Filing a Notice of Appeal shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.
Examiner RAHLL, JERRY T works in Art Unit 2874 and has examined 1,776 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 90.5%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 20 months.
Examiner RAHLL, JERRY T's allowance rate of 90.5% places them in the 74% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by RAHLL, JERRY T receive 1.04 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 10% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues significantly fewer office actions than most examiners.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by RAHLL, JERRY T is 20 months. This places the examiner in the 93% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications move through prosecution relatively quickly with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +8.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by RAHLL, JERRY T. This interview benefit is in the 40% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 40.4% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 91% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. If you receive a final rejection, filing an RCE with substantive amendments or arguments has a strong likelihood of success.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 61.7% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 87% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner is highly receptive to after-final amendments compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 714.12, after-final amendments may be entered "under justifiable circumstances." Consider filing after-final amendments with a clear showing of allowability rather than immediately filing an RCE, as this examiner frequently enters such amendments.
When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 85.7% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 66% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. If you have strong arguments, a PAC request may result in favorable reconsideration.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 70.6% of appeals filed. This is in the 57% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 58.3% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner shows above-average willingness to reconsider rejections during appeals. The mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) provides an opportunity for reconsideration.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 46.4% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 41% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show below-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 5.2% of allowed cases (in the 86% percentile). Per MPEP § 1302.04, examiner's amendments are used to place applications in condition for allowance when only minor changes are needed. This examiner frequently uses this tool compared to other examiners, indicating a cooperative approach to getting applications allowed. Strategic Insight: If you are close to allowance but minor claim amendments are needed, this examiner may be willing to make an examiner's amendment rather than requiring another round of prosecution.
Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.5% of allowed cases (in the 55% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).
Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:
Not Legal Advice: The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified patent attorney or agent for advice specific to your situation.
No Guarantees: We do not provide any guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the statistics presented above. Patent prosecution statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data and are subject to data quality limitations, processing errors, and changes in USPTO practices over time.
Limitation of Liability: Under no circumstances will IronCrow AI be liable for any outcome, decision, or action resulting from your reliance on the statistics, analysis, or recommendations presented in this report. Past prosecution patterns do not guarantee future results.
Use at Your Own Risk: While we strive to provide accurate and useful prosecution statistics, you should independently verify any information that is material to your prosecution strategy and use your professional judgment in all patent prosecution matters.