PostgreSQL ORDER BY valori nella clausola IN()

Puoi racchiuderlo in una tabella derivata:

SELECT *
FROM (
  SELECT DISTINCT id 
  FROM items 
  WHERE id IN (5,2,9) 
) t
ORDER BY
 CASE id
  WHEN 5 THEN 1 
  WHEN 2 THEN 2
  WHEN 9 THEN 3
 END