United States v. Driscoll

325 F. Supp. 1367, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13360
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedMay 11, 1971
DocketCrim. No. 69-224
StatusPublished

This text of 325 F. Supp. 1367 (United States v. Driscoll) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Driscoll, 325 F. Supp. 1367, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13360 (W.D. Pa. 1971).

Opinion

OPINION

ROSENBERG, District Judge.

This matter came on for non-jury trial before me following the presentation of an indictment by the Grand Jury on November 7, 1969, charging the defendant, Thomas Francis Driscoll, with failure to submit to induction into the Armed Forces of the United States in violation of Title 50, Appendix, United States Code, § 462(a).

The record discloses that the defendant was born on June 21, 1948 and is [1368]*1368presently 22 years old; that on July 1, 1966 he registered with Local Board No. 19 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; that in his classification questionnaire dated August 5th, he did not claim conscientious objector status; that because he was a student at Duquesne University, on October 17 he was classified II-S; that this student deferment was renewed on December 19, 1967; that on February 19, 1969 because he ceased to continue as a college student, he was reclassified I-A; that he was ordered to report for a physical examination on March 20, 1969 and found acceptable for military service; that the defendant furnished medical statements from private physicians supposedly attesting to his lack of physical and mental fitness for military service; that the Pennsylvania Selective Service System Headquarters found this evidence insufficient to warrant a change in defendant’s medical acceptability for military service; that on May 2nd he was ordered to report for induction on May 20; that he reported to the induction center at the appointed time, was found qualified for induction, but he departed from the induction center during a lunch recess despite prior warnings not to leave; that he was contacted at his home and informed of the possible consequences of such action, whereupon he admitted that he had departed without permission; that subsequent to the indictment in the instant case, the defendant, by letter dated November 21st requested that his local board permit him to resubmit to induction and be given the opportunity to present further medical evidence; that on December 10th the defendant was ordered to report for induction on January 5, 1970; that the defendant failed to report as ordered, and based on his original failure to submit to induction this prosecution followed.

The defense in this ease relies upon two distinct theories of law: the first is that on May 20, 1969, the day on which the defendant was scheduled to report for and submit to induction, he was in fact a conscientious objector and therefore entitled to reclassification as such; and second, that on the date set for induction, the defendant was mentally unfit for military service because of insanity.

The first defense is that the defendant was in fact a conscientious objector and that the board should have reclassified him as such. The procedural requirements for the reopening of selective service classifications are set forth in 32 C.F.R. § 1625.2 and provide that under such circumstances the classification “shall not be reopened * * * unless the local board first specifically finds there has been a change in the registrant’s status resulting from circumstances over which the registrant has no control.” This regulation was approved by the Supreme Court in Mulloy v. United States, 398 U.S. 410, 90 S.Ct. 1766, 26 L.Ed.2d 362 (1970). Thus, it is only necessary to determine whether or not the local board properly refused to reopen the defendant’s classification.

An examination of defendant’s Selective Service File (Government’s Exhibit No. 1) reveals that at the time he initially registered with Local Board No. 19, the defendant did not seek conscientious objector status, nor is there any indication that he sought such reclassification at any time subsequent to registration. Thus, the only claim of conscientious objector status was made during the course of the proceedings here in court where the defendant alleged that his beliefs crystallized at the induction center. Were we to accord this contention every possible benefit of doubt, it is negated by the defendant’s letter dated February 21, 1969 and addressed to his local board. There he requested permission to resubmit himself for induction and the right to present medical evidence concerning his physical and mental state, but made no mention of possible reclassification as a conscientious objector. One would believe that if the defendant indeed sincerely sought reclassification as a conscientious objector, that such a matter would have [1369]*1369been uppermost in his mind and he would have voiced it at the induction center on May 20, 1969, and certainly in his request for allowance to resubmit to induction. The Supreme Court has made it clear that the military services are- fully competent to inquire into the sincerity of a conscientious objector claim which is made subsequent to receipt of a notice to submit for induction, and that the local boards will not be required to reopen such classifications on allegations that the beliefs in question crystallized subsequent to receipt of the induction notice. Ehlert v. United States, 402 U.S. 99, 91 S.Ct. 1319, 28 L.Ed.2d 625 (decided April 21, 1971). However, the defendant having failed to raise a claim for conscientious objector status, could not expect the local board to either grant such a classification, sua sponte, or state its reasons for refusing to grant such a classification. Accordingly, this contention here is without merit.

The second defense which is raised here is that the defendant was mentally unfit for military service on the date set for his induction by reason of insanity. The function of the district courts in reviewing selective service cases is only to determine whether or not the local board acted in accordance with law. Estep v. United States, 327 U.S. 114, 66 S.Ct. 423, 90 L.Ed. 567 (1946). It is not the function of the court to substitute its opinion for the findings of the local board on the facts and circumstances of the case, but only to determine whether or not the classification had a basis in fact. Forsting v. United States, 429 F.2d 134, C.A.8, 1970; United States v. Bellmer, 404 F.2d 132, C.A. 3, 1968.

The medical evaluations submitted by the defendant to his local board indicated some mental disturbance, which although significant, did not amount to a severe disorder. However, in order to determine whether or not the defendant was legally competent to stand trial, and in order to gain greater insight into a possible mental aberration, upon motion of the United States in which defense counsel joined, I ordered an independent psychiatric examination of the defendant to be conducted. Dr. Morton Johan an eminent and competent psychiatrist was appointed at the expense of the United States to make such an examination and report.

The examination report of Dr. Johan satisfied me that the defendant was competent to stand trial, and capable of aiding his defense. Additionally, during the course of.the trial I carefully observed the defendant and failed to observe any indications of lack of understanding or incompetence.

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Related

Estep v. United States
327 U.S. 114 (Supreme Court, 1946)
Mulloy v. United States
398 U.S. 410 (Supreme Court, 1970)
Ehlert v. United States
402 U.S. 99 (Supreme Court, 1971)
United States v. Thomas J. N. Bellmer
404 F.2d 132 (Third Circuit, 1968)
Robert Lee Forsting v. United States
429 F.2d 134 (Eighth Circuit, 1970)

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Bluebook (online)
325 F. Supp. 1367, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13360, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-driscoll-pawd-1971.