United States v. Shermeister

286 F. Supp. 1, 1968 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9082
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedJune 27, 1968
DocketNo. 67-CR-125
StatusPublished

This text of 286 F. Supp. 1 (United States v. Shermeister) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Shermeister, 286 F. Supp. 1, 1968 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9082 (E.D. Wis. 1968).

Opinion

REYNOLDS, District Judge.

On May 2 and 3, 1968, the defendant was tried by this court for refusing to submit to induction into the Armed Forces in violation of Title 50 App., § 462, United States Code. At the conclusion of the court trial, the defendant was found and adjudged guilty, and a presentence investigation was ordered.

The defendant, a resident of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, was born on January 21, 1944, and is single. On May 7, 1964, he was initially classified as 1-A (available for induction) by his Local Draft Board. He was given a physical examination in September 1964, and found qualified for induction. In October 1964, he was given a 2-A classification, deferring him because of civilian occupation. This involved employment by his father in a small company called Midwest Auto Research.

In October of 1965, he was given a student deferment (2-S) by his Local Draft Board because of his attendance at a vocational school in Sheboygan. In August 1966, after the registrant left school, he was given another physical examination and found qualified for induction. In September 1966, the registrant was reclassified 1-A.

In November 1966, the defendant was granted a personal appearance before two Local Board members. He said he was an officer of his father’s new business located in their home. He said the business was in “financial straits,” his father was in poor health, and he was needed in the business until it got back on its feet.

The additional information submitted by the defendant and his father was placed in the file. The entire Local Board file was forwarded on appeal to the proper Appeal Board.

In March of 1967, the Appeal Board upheld the classification of 1-A, and the file was returned to the Local Board. On April 28, 1967, an order to report for induction was mailed to the defendant directing him to report on May 25, 1967.

On May 2, 1967, a Form 150, for conscientious objectors, was filed with the Local Board. The registrant indicated on the face of the form that neither statement of beliefs printed on the Form 150 contained his belief.

On May 17, 1967, the Form 150 was reviewed by the Local Board members who unanimously voted not to reopen the defendant’s classification, as they found no change in status resulting from circumstances beyond the registrant’s control.

On May 18, 1967, a letter was mailed from the Local Board to defendant containing the Board’s decision. Four days later, the State Director of Selective Service requested postponement of defendant’s induction until the June 1967 induction call. Induction was postponed, and on May 25, 1967, the defendant’s father requested that the Local Board furnish him with another Form 150 and a dependency form (SS Form 118). These forms were provided. The dependency form was never returned by the defendant.

On June 6, 1967, the defendant’s father visited the office but did not submit any additional information. The following day the Local Board reviewed the file again and informed the registrant and his father by letter that the classification would not be reopened. On June 8, 1967, a letter directing the registrant to report for induction on June 27, 1967, was mailed to the defendant.

[3]*3On several occasions during the next two weeks, the registrant’s father submitted information to the Draft Board regarding a dependency claim and the registrant’s opposition to war.

On June 26, 1967, the day before defendant was to report for induction, a second Form 150 was received by the Board from the defendant. The Clerk was unable to contact the Board members but did call the State Selective Service Headquarters in Madison. The Clerk was instructed by the State Headquarters to read Regulation 1625.2(b) to the defendant, which was done the following day when the defendant reported for induction. This regulation refers to the circumstances under which classification may be reopened after an induction order is issued. It provides:

“The local board may reopen and consider anew the classification of a registrant * * * (b) upon its own motion if such action is based upon facts not considered when the registrant was classified which, if true, would justify a change in the registrant’s classification; provided, in either event, the classification of a registrant shall not be reopened after the local board has mailed to such registrant an Order to Report for Induction (SSS Form No. 252) or an Order to Report for Civilian Work and Statement of Employer (SSS Form No. 153) unless the local board first specifically finds there has been a change in the registrant’s status resulting from circumstances over which the registrant had no control.”

On June 27, 1967, the defendant proceeded to the induction station in Milwaukee by bus. His refusal to submit to induction was witnessed by two members of the United States Army who testified to that effect at the trial. At the request of an Army Captain, the defendant wrote out a statement that he was refusing induction into the United States Army. He then left the induction station.

On August 8, 1967, the defendant was indicted for refusing to submit to induction. On August 16, 1967, the Local Board reviewed the second Form 150 and determined that no action was necessary. This court finds that the defendant exhausted his administrative remedies, and, consequently, this court reviewed the defendant’s 1-A classification.

The defendant’s contentions are:

1. That the Local Board improperly refused to reopen defendant’s classification after each of the two Forms 150 were submitted;

2. That the Local Board improperly denied defendant’s claim for a dependency deferment (3-A); and

3. That the court improperly admitted the written statement of the defendant regarding his refusal to submit for induction made at the induction station, in violation of the dictates of Miranda v. State of Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).

The Universal Military Training Act provides an exemption from service in the Armed Forces if a registrant is opposed to participation in war in any form “by reason of religious training or belief.” Title 50 App. United States Code, § 456(j). The first Form 150 filed on May 2, 1967, and filled out by the defendant, indicates quite clearly to the court that the defendant was not at that time opposed to war in any form. Not only did he deliberately not sign the section of the form containing the claims for exemption, but he stated in a letter dated May 6, 1967, which he requested be attached to Form 150, as follows:

“I am opposed to participation or to support in any manner any war of this kind at this time. I am referring to the present Viet-Namese conflict.”

It is the court’s finding that the facts set forth in this Form 150 would not justify a reopening of defendant’s classification under 32 C.F.R. § 1625.-2(b)[4]*41 and that the Board correctly refused to reopen.

The second Form 150 was filed on June 26, 1967, the day before defendant was to report for induction. It was not considered by the Board before defendant refused to be inducted, since the Local Board Clerk tried but was unable to contact the Local Board members.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Miranda v. Arizona
384 U.S. 436 (Supreme Court, 1966)
United States v. Schoebel
201 F.2d 31 (Seventh Circuit, 1953)
United States v. David Arthur Gearey
368 F.2d 144 (Second Circuit, 1966)
United States v. Starling Gene Helm
386 F.2d 434 (Fourth Circuit, 1968)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
286 F. Supp. 1, 1968 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9082, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-shermeister-wied-1968.