Bratcher v. McNamara, 22865.

Citation448 F.2d 222
Decision Date08 September 1971
Docket NumberNo. 22865.,22865.
PartiesMichael E. BRATCHER, Appellant, v. Robert S. McNAMARA, Secretary of Defense, et al., Appellees.
CourtUnited States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (9th Circuit)

Richard L. Young (argued), Michael H. Rosen, Seattle, Wash., for appellant.

Charles W. Billinghurst, Asst. U. S. Atty. (argued), Eugene Cushing, U. S. Atty., Tacoma, Wash., for appellees.

Before BARNES and MERRILL, Circuit Judges, and McNICHOLS, District Judge.

McNICHOLS, District Judge:

This case has been remanded by the Supreme Court for our further consideration in light of a change of position by the government on the issue of exhaustion of administrative remedies in relation to servicemen seeking court relief from military duty on grounds of conscientious objection to such duty. Bratcher v. Laird, 397 U.S. 246, 90 S.Ct. 1108, 25 L.Ed.2d 281 (1970). Our original opinion is found at 415 F.2d 760.

Briefly re-stated, the record discloses that appellant Bratcher enlisted in the United States Army on January 23, 1966 without prior indication of any conscientious scruples against war. However, after something in excess of a year of service as a medical corpsman, he began to resist military authority and from June 10, 1967 to June 16 of that year was absent from his duty station without leave. Following his apprehension by military police on June 16, 1967, he, for the first time, filed a written statement of his beliefs as a conscientious objector. At about the same time he defied certain direct orders to perform non-combatant type duties (i e., to cut weeds growing behind the hospital buildings). Specifications of court martial charges alleging absence without leave and disobedience of orders were drawn up and, on July 21, 1967, a court martial was authorized by Bratcher's commanding officer.

While the court martial was pending, but before trial, appellant's formal application for separation from the service as a conscientious objector was filed and processed through appropriate military channels. On September 27, 1967, the Secretary of Army determined that Bratcher qualified for classification as a conscientious objector. The Secretary did not however grant his request for I-O status which would have provided for discharge, but placed him in I-A-O classification which had the effect of retaining appellant in the Army subject only to non-combatant type duties. This determination was, it developed, totally unsatisfactory to Bratcher.

The action below was commenced in the District Court on October 24, 1967, again while the court martial trial was pending. The complaint, founded on theories of Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive relief, sought appellant's discharge from the Army. A hearing was had on October 27, 1967, at which time the Army administrative record was before the trial judge. Relief was orally denied on that day and subsequently formal findings of fact, conclusions of law and a judgment against the appellant were entered. The court held: (a) that habeas corpus was inappropriate in view of the pending court martial and (b) that assuming jurisdiction to review the Secretary's classification, the same was in accord with controlling principles.

As reflected in our original opinion, supra, the issue of exhaustion of administrative remedies was glossed over by the parties and the District Court. We raised the question at the time of oral argument and determined that the holdings of the Craycroft case (Craycroft v. Ferrall, 408 F.2d 587 (9th Cir. 1969) and the Krieger case (Krieger v. Terry, 413 F.2d 73 (9th Cir. 1969) were controlling. We held, on these authorities, that Bratcher was required to appeal the decision of the Secretary, relative to his conscientious objector status, to the Army Board of Military Records in order to exhaust the administrative procedure available to him, as a pre-requisite to seeking court intervention. No such appeal having been taken, we affirmed the order of the District Court, albeit on different grounds.

Bratcher effected certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. Before that tribunal the Solicitor General advised the court that the Department of Justice, with the concurrence of the Department of Defense, had concluded that "proper application of the exhaustion of remedies principle does not mandate application to the boards of correction of records for the various military services prior to obtaining federal court review of petitions for habeas corpus". On this representation, the Supreme Court remanded the case to this court to consider whether we wished to adhere to our decision. Bratcher v. Laird, supra.

We have determined that we must retreat from the position taken in our prior opinion.1

Bratcher is no longer on active duty with the Army.2 We therefore considered the question of mootness. The United States Attorney has represented to us that an ex-serviceman in appellant's position might, in the event of a national emergency or general mobilization, be subject to recall to active duty in the Army to perform non-combatant service.3 Assuming this to be the case, a majority of the panel is of the opinion that the action is not moot. The majority view is that a potential for recall to active duty represents a sufficient "adverse collateral consequence" as to obviate mootness and require a consideration of the merits. Carafas v. La Vallee, 391 U.S. 234, 88 S.Ct. 1556, 20 L.Ed.2d 554 (1968); Brown v. Resor, 407 F.2d 281 (5th Cir. 1969); Hewett v. State of North Carolina, 415 F.2d 1316 (4th Cir. 1969). Counsel for the parties urge that the case is not moot and we so hold.

We come somewhat belatedly to a consideration of this appeal on the grounds originally postulated. The formal citations of error are numerous, but we find there are actually only two basic issues presented. It is firstly contended that the court erred in dismissing the complaint on the premise that, since the appellant was awaiting court martial, relief by way of habeas corpus would not have the effect of releasing the petitioner from military custody and that the granting of the writ was therefore improper. The second question for determination concerns the propriety of the military decision to deny Bratcher's request for outright discharge and alternatively to retain him in the service as a non-combatant. The trial court upheld that ruling by the Secretary of Army and appellant charges error. If the trial court was correct in either decision, the judgment dismissing the complaint must be affirmed.

From the record it is clear that the district judge was of the view that relief by way of habeas corpus was unavailable to one in custody where the circumstances indicated that a favorable decision on the legal issue raised by the petition would not result in discharge of the petitioner from custody. The Supreme Court had so held. McNally v. Hill, 293 U.S. 131, 55 S.Ct. 24, 79 L.Ed. 238 (1934). During the extended period in which this case has been under appeal, McNally has been overruled. Peyton v. Rowe, 391 U.S. 54, 88 S.Ct. 1549, 20 L.Ed.2d 426 (1968). It is now well established that legal issues traditionally determined by habeas corpus proceedings are not barred merely because a favorable holding for the petitioner would not actually result in his release from custody. Glazier v. Hackel, 440 F.2d 592 (9th Cir. 1971). Habeas corpus is the accepted vehicle for testing the legality of rentention (custody) of servicemen in the military. Hammond v. Lenfest, 398 F.2d 705 (2nd Cir. 1968).

In view of the evolution in the law, we are constrained to hold that it was error for the trial court to dismiss the complaint on the ground that the pending court martial ousted the court of jurisdiction or militated against the granting of any relief.

As indicated above, our holding on this first issue is not dispositive of the case. The experienced trial judge, even though of the opinion that he was without jurisdiction, and in a wise abundance of caution, proceeded to examine into the merits of the case. Upon a review of the administrative record which was before him, he found that the pertinent regulations had been complied with and that a factual basis existed for the determination to deny Bratcher's application for I-O status. He recognized the limited scope of review afforded him and affirmed the Secretary. Appellant appears to concede that the regulations for processing his request for discharge were adequately complied with. Our examination of the administrative record leads us to a similar conclusion.

It is undisputed that Bratcher filed a request for separation from the Army as a conscientious objector in accordance with Army Regulation No. 635-20 (AR 635-20), as promulgated May 1, 1967. This regulation establishes the policy and procedures for disposition of military personnel claiming conscientious objection to war. The policy set out provides for consideration of requests for separation from individuals whose beliefs have developed subsequent to entry into active duty. The form to be used for an application setting out the information required was provided for. AR 635-20 speaks only of discharge and makes no mention of retention in the service on a non-combatant basis.

In his determination the Secretary disapproved discharge, and recommended that, in accordance with Department of Defense Directive No. 1300.6, dated August 12, 1962 (DOD 1300.6), then in force, Bratcher be placed in a class I-A-O rather than I-O as requested. Appellant argues that, since the application was made under the provisions of AR 635-20, the Secretary was limited...

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  • Bacon v. United States
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit
    • 30 Septiembre 1971
    ...that order provides a sufficient collateral consequence. Compare Russo v. United States, 9 Cir., 1971, 448 F.2d 369 and Bratcher v. McNamara, 9 Cir., 1971, 448 F.2d 222. This court has released Bacon on her own recognizance, subject to certain conditions, pending her appeal in No. 71-1825. ......
  • Beller v. Middendorf
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    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit
    • 23 Octubre 1980
    ...discharge the plaintiff as a conscientious objector from being moot. Taylor v. Claytor, 601 F.2d 1102 (9th Cir. 1979); Bratcher v. McNamara, 448 F.2d 222 (9th Cir. 1971). The possible continuing injuries noted above are, we think, sufficient to justify our conclusion that a live case or con......
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    • 8 Noviembre 2007
    ...not seeking a discharge from military service as part of their claims. Glazier v. Hackel, 440 F.2d 592 (9th Cir.1971); Bratcher v. McNamara, 448 F.2d 222 (9th Cir.1971). Petitioner alleges that the restraint on liberty he is being subjected to is a court martial proceeding that would violat......
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