United States v. Moore

41 M.J. 812, 1995 CCA LEXIS 70, 1995 WL 57268
CourtNavy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals
DecidedJanuary 18, 1995
DocketNMCM No. 9401785
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 41 M.J. 812 (United States v. Moore) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Moore, 41 M.J. 812, 1995 CCA LEXIS 70, 1995 WL 57268 (N.M. 1995).

Opinion

McLaughlin, Judge:

This is an appeal by the United States pursuant to Article 62, Uniform Code of Military Justice [UCMJ], 10 U.S.C. § 862, requesting that we reverse a ruling by the military judge suppressing the results of tests of two urine specimens taken from the appellee on 11 and 16 August 1994. We agree with the United States and hold that the military judge erred as a matter of law.

The appellee was arraigned on 6 October 1994 on charges of wrongful use of marijuana and methamphetamine in violation of Article 112a, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 912a. At an Article 39(a), UCMJ, session before entering pleas, the appellee moved to suppress the test results. After hearing testimony, the military judge suppressed the test .results and the Government filed its appeal. We find that the provisions of Rule for Courts-Martial [R.C.M.] 908(b), and this Court’s rules were satisfied. Oral argument was heard on 5 January 1995.

At trial, the appellee’s attack on the admissibility of the test results focussed on the Government’s failure to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that this inspection program was not primarily for the purpose of obtaining evidence for use in a trial by court-martial or in other disciplinary procedures. Mil.R.Evid. 313(b). The need for proof “by clear and convincing evidence” arises from the appellee’s premise that the purported inspection was to locate contraband from “specific individuals ... selected for examination.” Id. Suggested in the appellee’s brief, and emphasized at oral argument, is that the regimental commander ordered the company commander to have Legal Platoon, Motor Transport Platoon, and Communication Platoon inspected by urinalysis on a weekly basis, instead of what was an otherwise in-place inspection program of once or twice monthly for the entire company, in order to obtain evidence for court-martial against the appellee, a member of Legal Platoon.

[814]*814Background

In June 1994, the appellee had been given nonjudicial punishment [NJP] under Article 15, UCMJ, for wrongful use of methamphetamine. As a result of this NJP, the appellee became “non-deployable” and, in accordance with standard operating procedures, when his battalion deployed, he was left behind. Personnel who are non-deployable, and left behind upon deployment, are transferred to Headquarters Company [HqCo], 7th Regiment. At HqCo, these non-deployable individuals are separated into platoons according to their status or needs. There is a Medical Platoon, a platoon of members whose end of active obligated service was imminent (EAS platoon), a Witness Platoon, and a Legal Platoon. The HqCo also contained the more functional Communications Platoon, Motor Transport Platoon, Tactical Operational Weapons Platoon, and Headquarters Platoon. The appellee, due to his being processed for an administrative discharge related to his prior NJP in June, was assigned to Legal Platoon. Some dispute arises as to whether all members of Legal Platoon await imminent discharge or disciplinary action, but the regimental commander’s testimony, repeated by others, reflects that the members of Legal Platoon were perceived to have problems with maintaining the high degree of self-discipline regarding good order and discipline and military fitness that is the hallmark of a United States Marine. Some, like the appellee, were substance-abusers, others were not. Some were being administratively processed for discharge unrelated to UCMJ violations or drug abuse. The Legal Platoon fluctuated between about 20 and 30 members during the summer of 1994.

During this summer of 1994, the commanding officer of 7th Marines perceived a high number of positive urinalysis test results from HqCo. Through the HqCo commander, he instituted a program of more frequent testing for those platoons exhibiting a high incidence of positive test results. Specifically, Legal Platoon, Communication Platoon, and Motor Transport Platoon were to be inspected (provide urine samples) on a weekly basis. In July 1994, Communication Platoon was inspected on 5, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, and 28 July. Legal and Motor Transport Platoons were inspected 5 July only. In August 1994, Communication Platoon was inspected on 1, 8,17, 24, and 30 August. Legal Platoon was inspected 2, 11, 16, 25, and 29 August. Motor Transport Platoon was inspected 16 and 22 August.1

Law

In a Government appeal, this Court is empowered to act only with respect to matters of law. Article 62(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 862(b); R.C.M. 908; United States v. Postle, 20 M.J. 632, 636 (N.M.C.M.R.1985). As a rule, we are bound by the trial judge’s resolution of factual questions and will overturn such factual determinations only if we find they are unsupported by the record or are clearly erroneous. United States v. Burris, 21 M.J. 140, 144 (C.M.A.1985) (citing United States v. Middleton, 10 M.J. 123, 133 (C.M.A.1981)). In a case attacking the primary purpose of a urinalysis testing program under Mil.R.Evid. 313(b), a military judge’s finding regarding the “primary purpose” may be a matter of fact, however, “whether the examination is an inspection is a matter of law____” United States v. Gardner, 41 M.J. 189, 191 (C.M.A.1994) (citations omitted).

Facts

After hearing testimony and argument, the military judge made the following mixed findings of fact, conclusions, and rulings:
1. The “Legal Platoon,” of which Pvt Moore was a member in July and August 1994, is a part of HqCo, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st MarDiv, located at MCAGCC, 29 Palms, CA.
2. HqCo is made up of 5 or 6 platoons.
3. Pvt Moore joined Legal Platoon in July 1994 after his Battalion deployed.
4. The Legal Platoon is composed of individuals awaiting administrative discharge or disciplinary action of some kind.
[815]*8155. During the relevant period, members of Legal Platoon were required to submit to urinalysis tests once a week.
6. Comm Platoon and Motor Transport Platoon, also identified as having a history of a high incidence of drug abuse, were also required to submit to more frequent urinalysis.
7. The rest of the HqCo of the Regiment participates in urinalysis tests approximately once per month, or in some eases, twice per month.
8. All positive urinalysis results are dealt with at some form of disciplinary proceeding or administrative discharge process, unless it’s inconvenient for the command, i.e., delay processing with which they choose not to interfere.
9. The stated purpose of the increased frequency of testing was to “aggressively and frequently focus on the elements having the most problems with drug abuse.”
10. The real purpose behind the urinalysis tests for “problem” units was to attempt to gain evidence for disciplinary proceedings against those showing positive results.
11. The recurring theme of the rationale was “maintaining good order and discipline.”

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Bluebook (online)
41 M.J. 812, 1995 CCA LEXIS 70, 1995 WL 57268, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-moore-nmcca-1995.