Not saying this is what we would do (as a registrar) but an order from the government generally has a time stamp on it where you can verify the "order" and then

Not saying this is what we would do (as a registrar) but an order from the government generally has a time stamp on it where you can verify the "order" and then comply. While I can't get into the time period allowed or any details like that I can say that it would be possible to alert the registrant and/or stall the request if one so chooses to do that. I'm not saying we would do this of course. I'm just saying that getting an order from the US Government, unless it appears on it's face to be a true emergency situation, a registrar could always take the time to check with legal counsel. And if it were a true emergency the Government would go straight to Verisign (for .com/net) and not even bother with the registrar.