United States v. Pearson, 8897

Decision Date15 November 1945
Docket NumberNo. 8897,8992.,8897
Citation151 F.2d 801
PartiesUNITED STATES ex rel. SAMUELS v. PEARSON, Commanding Officer. UNITED STATES ex rel. HOROWITZ v. SAME.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit

Meyer Kreeger, of New York City (George M. Eichler, and Willner & Willner, both of Jersey City, N. J., on the brief), for appellants Samuels and Horowitz.

Grover C. Richman, Jr., of Camden, N. J. (Edgar H. Rossbach, U. S. Atty., of Newark, N. J., on the brief), for appellee Pearson.

Before MARIS, GOODRICH, and O'CONNELL, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

The relators in these two cases claimed exemption from military training and service under the Selective Service Act, 50 U.S.C.A.Appendix § 301 et seq. The claim of each was based upon the asserted fact that he was a student preparing for the ministry. The local board of each at first granted him exemption but, after receiving from the New York City Director of Selective Service the statement and recommendation of an "advisory panel on theological classifications" and after further proceedings not necessary here to relate, cancelled his exemption and reclassified him in Class IA. Each was subsequently inducted into the army and then sued out a writ of habeas corpus in the district court, which after hearing that court discharged. The present appeals followed.

In each of these cases, as in the case of United States ex rel. Levy v. Cain, 2 Cir., 1945, 149 F.2d 338, the membership of the "advisory panel" was cloaked in anonymity, its statement not being signed, and the identity of its membership not being disclosed to the relator or appearing in the record of the proceedings before the local board. In each case it made through the New York City Director of Selective Service a recommendation to the local board as to the action which the board should take.

We fully agree with the conclusion reached by the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that the interjection of the statement and recommendation of the "advisory panel" into the proceedings of the local boards vitiated those proceedings and rendered the relators' reclassification and induction invalid. The reasons for this conclusion are stated in Judge Learned Hand's opinion in the cited case with such clarity and force as to require no amplification by us.

Accordingly in each case the order of the district court is reversed and the cause is remanded to that court with directions to discharge the relator from...

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5 cases
  • Petersen v. Clark
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of California
    • May 28, 1968
    ...States, 348 U.S. 375, 377, 75 S.Ct. 392, 99 L.Ed. 428; United States ex rel. Reel v. Badt, 152 F.2d 627 (C.A.2); United States ex rel. Samuels v. Pearson, 151 F.2d 801 (C.A.3). The legislative history of P.L. 90-40 makes it plain that Congress intended to preserve the generally prevailing l......
  • Eagles v. United States Samuels
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • December 23, 1946
    ...'From military custoday, without prejudice to further lawful proceedings under the Selective Service Act'. United States ex rel. Samuels v. Pearson, 3 Cir., 151 F.2d 801, 802. The case is here on a petition for a writ of certiorari which we granted in order to resolve the conflict between t......
  • United States v. Hearn, 11456.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • January 15, 1946
    ...149 F.2d 338, in the Second Circuit, followed in the Third Circuit in United States ex rel. Samuels v. Pearson, and United States ex rel. Horowitz v. Pearson, 151 F.2d 801, in which on habeas corpus the use by the local boards of the Theological Panel above mentioned was held to vitiate the......
  • Eagles v. United States Horowitz
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • December 23, 1946
    ...of Horozitz, and remanded the cause to the District Court with directions to discharge him from military custody. United States ex rel. Samuels v. Pearson, 3 Cir., 151 F.2d 801. It appears that after the remand Horowitz was enlarged upon a recognizance as permitted under our rules. Rule 45,......
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