United States v. Zimmerman

403 F. Supp. 481, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15278
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Jersey
DecidedNovember 14, 1975
DocketCrim. No. 43-67
StatusPublished

This text of 403 F. Supp. 481 (United States v. Zimmerman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Jersey primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Zimmerman, 403 F. Supp. 481, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15278 (D.N.J. 1975).

Opinion

OPINION

MEANOR, District Judge.

This matter comes before the court on defendant’s motion to dismiss the indictment. Briefs and affidavits were submitted by both sides. Oral argument was heard on November 7, 1975. Following the argument, the court reserved decision.

By an indictment filed on February 1, 1967, the defendant was charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C.App. § 462(a), failure to report for induction. Defendant moves to dismiss the indictment on the ground that the Government is estopped from prosecuting him because of representations made in a list of draft cases sent to Senator Edward Kennedy on January 24, 1975 (“the Kennedy list”). This case presents a novel and difficult issue which does not appear to have been ruled upon by any other District Court. A full exposition of the facts would seem to be appropriate.

In July 1966, defendant left the United States and entered Canada. By a letter received on July 21, 1966, defendant informed his local draft board1 that he had become a landed immigrant in Canada. He stated that he was working for a Canadian Auto Repairman's License Class I-A and that he intended to make Canada his permanent home.

A notice ordering defendant to report for induction was issued October 10, 1966. Defendant again wrote his local board on October 19, 1966 reiterating that he intended to make Canada his permanent home. On February 1, 1967, he was indicted for failure to report for induction.

Defendant wrote the United States Attorney for this district on March 9, 1967. He restated his intent to become a resident of Canada and to seek education there. He explained that he felt “obligated to Canadian law, and not to the laws of the United States.” He asserted that his reason for emigration was not to avoid military service.

In his March 1967 letter, defendant noted that he had been received in Canada as a potential citizen. In December 1973, defendant became a naturalized Canadian citizen. Defendant was arrested June 9, 1975 upon attempting to enter the United States.

On September 17, 1974, President Ford issued a proclamation announcing his “clemency” program. 39 F.R. 33293, 1974 U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News 8216. The proclamation stated that “this program will not apply to an individual who is precluded from re-entering the United States under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a) (22) or othér law.” 2

On November 13, 1974, the Attorney General directed all United States Attorneys to review their files of pending draft evader cases and to dismiss all of those cases that lacked merit.

On January 24, 1975, Deputy Attorney General Laurence H. Silberman sent Senator Edward M. Kennedy three copies of a list which was said to include [483]*483“the names and selective service numbers, where available, of all individuals who are presently charged by indictment, information or complaint, and those who are under investigation for draft offenses during the Vietnam era, where the case is believed to have prosecutive merit.” With an exception not here relevant, the list was said to be “considered final by the Department of Justice, and those whose names appear may consider themselves eligible for the Clemency Program.”

The list was broken down by Judicial District. The list for this district is included in the affidavit of Jonathan Marsh, Esq. which accompanied the notice of motion. The list covering indicted individuals is headed:

Indicted Draft Evaders Whose Cases Retain Prosecutive Merit and Are Eligible for the Presidential Clemency Program.

Defendant’s name was not on that list.

On January 29, 1975, Mr. Silberman sent a Telex to all United States Attorneys containing the letter to Senator Kennedy. This Telex made mention of a submission of names by the United States Attorneys to the Department of Justice of “all persons whose cases contain prosecutive merit and are eligible for the President’s clemency program.” (Emphasis added.) It went on to state:

In those cases where during the review it was determined that the draft evader, though no longer liable for his violation of the Military Selective Service Act, has renounced his American Citizenship or become a foreign national in accordance with Title 8 U.S.C. § 1401, or was an alien, his name should be forwarded to the Immigration and Naturalization Service in order that the provisions of Title 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a) (22) may be invoked. . . .

On February 27, 1975, Attorney General Levi wrote to Senator Kennedy. He stated that “[t]he list is final except with respect to individuals subject to criminal prosecution for late or non-registration.” He noted that those people who had inadvertently been left off the list because they were then negotiating with the United States Attorney or who had stated that they did not intend to participate in the clemency program would not be prosecuted, despite'the fact that such people knew they were liable for prosecution and suffered no actual prejudice. They were not to be prosecuted “because it is our position that we shall adhere to the representations made in the Departmental letter of January 24 to you.” This letter was telexed to all United States Attorneys. Following the text of the let-er, the telex continued:

In accord with the policy decisions embodied in this letter, all U. S. Attorneys will undertake the following:
(1) Dismiss draft evasion indictments covered by the clemency program against all individuals whose names were not submitted to the Department in accordance wifh the Departmental instruction of December 20, 1974.

On March 11, 1975, Senator Kennedy wrote to Mr. Levi. The Senator noted that the Immigration and Naturalization Service was excluding “from admission into the United States such aliens (including former citizens of the United States) as it determines to have left this country or remained abroad in order to evade or avoid military training and service.” He pointed out that 1182(a) (22) was being applied in cases where there had been no conviction or charge of selective service violation. He asserted that those whose names had not appeared on the Kennedy list could not be excluded from entering the country as a matter of law.

Acting Assistant Attorney General McConnell replied to' Senator Kennedy on April 18, 1975. He pointed out that the clemency program was not applicable to those excluded under 1182(a)(22). He reviewed the legislative history and some case law.

[484]*484Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maroney wrote Senator Kennedy in June 1975 stating that, although § 1182(a) (22) aliens were excluded from the program, any alien who applied by March 31, 1975 and could demonstrate that § 1182 did not apply to him would be considered eligible for clemency.

The defendant contends that the Government is estopped from prosecuting any alleged draft evader whose name was not on the Kennedy list. The Government concedes that it would be estopped from prosecuting any alleged evader whose name should have been but is not on the list.

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403 F. Supp. 481, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15278, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-zimmerman-njd-1975.