Scarth v. Geraci

382 F. Supp. 876
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Texas
DecidedOctober 9, 1974
DocketCiv. A. No. 5-74-93
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 382 F. Supp. 876 (Scarth v. Geraci) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scarth v. Geraci, 382 F. Supp. 876 (N.D. Tex. 1974).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WOODWARD, District Judge.

Pat A. Scarth, Petitioner, enrolled in Texas Tech University in August, 1969, seeking a degree in agricultural engineering. On August 30, 1971, Petitioner executed a contract for participation in the Advanced Course Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) which, if satisfactorily completed by a physically qualified student, could result in the participant receiving an Army Commission upon graduation. Petitioner satisfactorily completed all of the course requirements promulgated by the ROTC Program precedent to his commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. On February 8, 1974, after he had completed the course requirements for commissioning, but prior to receiving his engineering degree, he underwent a pre-commissioning physical examination at Reese Air Force Base, Texas. The results of the hearing portion of the examination reflected a severe loss in hearing which indicated his physical disqualification for commission. Petitioner, responding to interrogation by Major LaRue, an officer on active duty attached to the military science department at Texas Tech University, admitted that he had “faked the hearing portion of the examination”. That officer recommended that he take the test again, which Petitioner satisfactorily completed on that same date.

On March 20, 1974, the Army convened an investigating board pursuant to Army Regulation 145-1, paragraph 3-25, and Army Regulation 15-6, paragraph 3, for the purpose of determining the suitability for retention of Petitioner in the ROTC Program. Major George T. Kimbro (now Lieutenant Colonel Kimbro) was appointed Investigating Officer who notified Petitioner by letter dated March 26, 1974, that he had been appointed to investigate and determine the suitability of Petitioner for retention ■ in the Army ROTC Program.1

[878]*878Upon Petitioner’s request that military counsel be provided him, Major Fred E. Lyssy, a non-lawyer Army officer, was appointed as counsel for Petitioner. On April 5, 1974, the board convened with Major Kimbro its only member, and with Petitioner, his non-lawyer appointed counsel, and the witnesses for and against him being the only other persons in attendance. A transcript of the testimony at the board hearing was prepared and has been filed in this proceeding. After hearing the testimony, Major Kimbro filed his findings and recommendation that Petitioner be ordered to active duty for a period of two years at his enlisted rate, the findings and recommendations were approved by higher Army authority, and on July 15, 1974, orders issued to Petitioner, directing him to report to the United States Army Infantry and Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, by 1200 hours on August 19, 1974, for active duty with the United States Army for a period of two years.

Petitioner did not report for duty as ordered, but on August 16, 1974, he filed application for writ of habeas corpus in this court, seeking temporary and permanent injunctions against the United States Army. He contended that he was denied due process by the United States Army in that he was denied effective assistance of legal counsel, he was not sufficiently informed of the nature and cause of the accusations made against him, and that the United States Army had no authority to order him to active duty in his enlisted rate for a period of two years.

This court’s first consideration is to determine whether any jurisdiction exists to entertain Petitioner's application. First, orderly government requires the Federal Courts to tread lightly on the military domain, with scrupulous regard for the power and authority of the military establishment to govern its own affairs within the broad confines of constitutional due process. Hagopian v. Knowlton, 2nd Cir. 1972, 470 F.2d 201. Next, the issue exists as to precisely where Petitioner is “in custody”. Finally, he has not reported to active duty as ordered and the Federal Courts have, on many occasions, taken the position that they will not entertain similar applications until Petitioner has reported for duty in accordance with the orders. This court pretermits the latter consideration and makes its determination to deny the relief sought on other grounds.

This court entered order on August 22, 1974, restraining Respondents from removing Petitioner from the jurisdiction of this court, and on September 30, 1974, conducted a full hearing on Petitioner’s application for injunction.

Petitioner is domiciled in the Lubbock Division of the Northern District of Texas, he attended Texas Tech University and participated in ROTC training in this division, the hearing which led to his being ordered to active duty was conducted in this division, and all of his contacts with the Army which are germane to the application occurred in this division. Petitioner is “in custody” in the Lubbock Division of the Northern District of Texas for habeas purposes. Strait v. Laird, 1972, 406 U. S. 341, 92 S.Ct. 1693, 32 L.Ed.2d 141.

Petitioner first contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel throughout the investigative proceedings and at the hearing and that he was misled into believing that he could have military legal counsel appointed to represent him. The uncontroverted testimony in the record reflects that there is no licensed lawyer attached to the United States Army ROTC Program at Texas Tech University and that the officer who was appointed to represent Petitioner, Major Fred E. Lyssy, was not a licensed lawyer and had no formal legal training. The record also reflects that after Major Kimbro was appointed Investigating Officer, he contacted Petitioner, advised him as to the fact of his appointment, told him that he had the right to retain civilian counsel or that he could have military counsel. Petitioner requested military counsel. At [879]*879Major Kimbro’s recommendation, Petitioner contacted the civilian attorney who is hired by Texas Tech University to represent the interests of the students. The attorney indicated that he was disqualified from representing Petitioner in this type hearing. Major Kim-bro then contacted the Staff Judge Advocate at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, and inquired if an attorney from the Air Force could represent Pétitioner at the hearing. Apparently, Staff Judge Advocate declined for the reason that under Air Force Regulations it could represent only military personnel or their dependents and since Petitioner was not a dependent of one in the military he was not eligible for representation from that source. Staff Judge Advocate did offer, however, to consult with Petitioner and with appointed counsel and to advise them generally as to the nature of the proceedings. This offer was accepted by Petitioner and by appointed counsel and on at least one occasion prior to the hearing they consulted with the Staff Advocate General’s Section at Reese Air Force Base, Texas. Major Kimbro appeared to have diligently sought legally trained counsel for Petitioner.

Petitioner testified at the hearing in this court that he interpreted Major Kimbro’s letter of March 26, 1974, as advising him that he was entitled to an appointed military lawyer. The first time that he realized that he could not get a military lawyer was in the second telephone conversation with Major Kim-bro which was sometime during the weekend prior to the hearing on Friday, April 5, 1974, approximately one week prior to the hearing.

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Related

Scarth v. Geraci
510 F.2d 1363 (Fifth Circuit, 1975)
Pat A. Scarth v. Colonel Albert J. Geraci
510 F.2d 1363 (Fifth Circuit, 1975)

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382 F. Supp. 876, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scarth-v-geraci-txnd-1974.