United States v. Stephen Dana Roberts

455 F.2d 1232, 1972 U.S. App. LEXIS 11293
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedFebruary 15, 1972
Docket26944
StatusPublished

This text of 455 F.2d 1232 (United States v. Stephen Dana Roberts) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Stephen Dana Roberts, 455 F.2d 1232, 1972 U.S. App. LEXIS 11293 (9th Cir. 1972).

Opinion

TRASK, Circuit Judge:

This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction for refusal to be inducted, a violation'of 50 U.S.C. App. § 462. We affirm.

The following facts, stated first in summary fashion constitute the framework for the issues raised by appellant Roberts. On September 12, 1967, Roberts filed SSS Form 150 (Application for Conscientious Objector Status) which form he requested on August 30, 1967, when he submitted Form 100, Classification Questionnaire. The Board asked Roberts to appear on March 18, 1968, for a courtesy interview to discuss his request for an exemption from both combatant and non-combatant training and service. On that day, the Board classified Roberts I-A, and filed a Report of Oral Information, which stated the reason for the denial of the C.O. claim.

“Both Mr. Majer and Mr. True felt he was not sincere in his claim and recommended classification in I-A.”

Before Roberts’ appeal from this classification was processed, he was reclassified in a lower priority classification, II-S, pursuant to his request and information which the Board received from *1234 Roberts’ college. The II-S classification expired on October 1, 1968. Nothing more was presented to the Board until January 21, 1969, when Roberts was again classified I-A. An appeal was timely filed, but on February 24, 1969, and before the file was forwarded to the Appeal Board, Roberts submitted a second SSS Form 150 and a letter attesting to his sincerity. On March 18, 1969, after his appearance at a courtesy interview that same day, Roberts filed a 22 page handwritten statement purporting to state his personal development and beliefs.

The Local Board considered the new information on April 15, 1969, but refused to reopen Roberts’ classification. On April 21, 1969, the entire file was forwarded to the Appeal Board which also classified Roberts I-A. An induction order issued in due course, and Roberts refused to report. This prosecution and conviction followed. Following the trial, the lower court ordered a competency hearing to determine whether Roberts had been competent at the time of the trial. An order affirming him competent was entered. We affirm.

The First I-A Classification and the First Conscientious Objector Application

In his original classification questionnaire he claimed to be a conscientious objector and requested the Board to furnish him with the special form (SSS 150) for filing the claim. His answers to the questions asked on his classification questionnaire are illuminating. First, he claimed no disqualifying disabilities for military service such as an ordination in the ministry or student in preparation for such; marriage or fatherhood; an adverse court record; an agricultural occupation; or a status as sole surviving son. In response to the questions under “Physical Condition” as to whether or not he had any mental or physical condition which in his opinion would disqualify him for military service, he stated, “That I disapprove (sic) of taking orders from the armed forces.” He stated that he was self-employed and described that employment as follows:

“I make shrunken heads of Lyndon Johnson out of plaster of parís and psychedelic book bags.”

His request for the SSS 150 Form was promptly met and he returned it promptly. In response to the question asked there, “Do you believe in a Supreme Being?”, he answered, “None of your business.” He answered the question inquiring under what circumstances he believed in the use of force by saying:

“When somebody either exerts external force upon me or when an authority exerts external force upon those senses of values of which I identify.”

Question number 6 asked him to describe the actions and behavior in his life which in his opinion most conspicuously demonstrated the consistency and depth of his religious convictions. He responded:

“I threw eggs at General Eisenhead S.A.C. during Spokane Lilac Festival. I leafleted the Spokesman Review, the Draft Board, Spokane Induction Centers, U.S. Post Office, and all the down town Banks.”

The last questions requested names of persons who could supply information as to the sincerity of his professed convictions against participation in war. He wrote simply,

“I am not a pacifist.”

There were other suggested questions attached to the form regarding his claimed conscientious objection. He did not answer them.

In due course the Local Board asked Roberts to appear for a courtesy interview. He did appear and at the conclusion, a Report of Oral Information was filed by the Board in which it was concluded that he was not sincere and the recommendation for I-A classification was made. It seems clear that the classification of I-A and the rejection of the 1-0 Claim did have a basis in fact *1235 and the reasons stated were sufficient. United States v. Haughton, 413 F.2d 736 (9th Cir. 1969).

Although Roberts appealed, the appeal was not processed because he was reclassified in a lower priority classification (II-S) at his request and upon information the Board received from his college. This classification expired on October 1, 1968. Nothing more was presented to the Board until January 21, 1969, when Roberts was again classified I-A. An appeal was timely filed but before the file was forwarded to the Appeal Board, Roberts submitted a second SSS 150.

The Second I-A Classification and the Local Board’s Refusal to Reopen

On the date the second I-A classification was made, the file was in the same condition as it was when he was first classified I-A on March 18, 1968. The only intervening event was his student deferment and its routine expiration. The same basis in fact existed for the second I-A classification as existed for the first. The same stated reasons of the Local Board applied. Roberts appealed from the second classification of I-A on February 14, 1969.

Before the file was forwarded a second SSS 150 Form requesting conscientious objector status was filed. On the same date a letter attesting to his sincerity was also filed. 1 Although Roberts requested a personal appearance, the request was not within thirty days of the date upon which the Local Board mailed his notice of classification to him, 32 C. F.R. § 1624.1, and the request was denied. Nonetheless, he was told he would be given a courtesy interview. He was notified in advance of the date and what materials might be presented. He appeared on March 18, 1969, and stated that he had written what he called his personal development, but had forgotten to bring it. 2

In answer to specific questions he stated that he was opposed to war in all forms; that his objections were based upon religious training and belief and that were he to be classified as a conscientious objector he would accept civilian work for 29 months.

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Related

Mulloy v. United States
398 U.S. 410 (Supreme Court, 1970)
David Bruce Miller v. United States
388 F.2d 973 (Ninth Circuit, 1967)
Clinton Roy Petrie v. United States
407 F.2d 267 (Ninth Circuit, 1969)
United States v. Lonnie Leroy Haughton
413 F.2d 736 (Ninth Circuit, 1969)

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Bluebook (online)
455 F.2d 1232, 1972 U.S. App. LEXIS 11293, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-stephen-dana-roberts-ca9-1972.