United States v. Kelly, 72-1767.

• Decision Date: 31 January 1973
• Docket Number: No. 72-1767.,72-1767.
• Citation: 473 F.2d 1225
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Patrick Donald KELLY, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

473 F.2d 1225 (1973)

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Patrick Donald KELLY, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 72-1767.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

January 31, 1973.

Ralph Johansen (argued), Berkeley, Cal., for defendant-appellant.

Robert E. Carey, Jr., Chester G. Moore, III, Asst. U. S. Attys., James L. Browning, Jr., U. S. Atty., San Francisco, Cal., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before HUFSTEDLER and CHOY, Circuit Judges, and SMITH, District Judge.^*

PER CURIAM:

Appellant appeals from his conviction for refusing to submit to induction into the Armed Forces in violation of 50 U. S.C. App. § 462(a). We reverse because the local board clerk's failure to transmit to the local board members information in support of appellant's high school deferment was prejudicial error amounting to a denial of procedural due process.

The facts are uncontroverted by either party. Appellant registered with Local Board No. 59 in Santa Cruz, California on November 25, 1968. A completed Current Information Questionnaire (SSS Form 100) was returned on May 12, 1969 and was accompanied by a note indicating that appellant intended to complete his one remaining semester of high school in September of that year. On June 16, 1969, Kelly was classified I-A (available for military service) by the local board. No appeal was taken from this classification. On August 6, 1969, the local board was notified by the principal of the Santa Cruz Adult Education Program that appellant had registered for two classes and that upon satisfactory completion he would receive his high school diploma by June, 1970. The board took no action on this information, and on July 24, 1970, appellant was mailed an induction order, with a reporting date of August 12, 1970, which was subsequently changed to November 25, 1970. Appellant's refusal to submit to induction on that date precipitated his prosecution and eventual conviction.

The appropriate procedure for reopening and reconsidering a registrant's classification is governed by 32 C.F.R. § 1625.2, which, in pertinent part, provides:

"The local board may reopen and consider anew the classification of a registrant (a) upon written request of the registrant, . . . if such request is accompanied by written information presenting facts not considered when the registrant was classified, which, if true, would justify a change in the registrant\'s classification; . . . provided, . . . 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 has no control."

If the board concludes that the information fails to present any new facts not considered when the registrant was previously classified or that the new information, even if true, does not justify a classification change, it is barred from reopening the registrant's classification. 32 C.F.R. § 1625.4. Upon such a determination, the local board must advise the registrant by letter that the new information does not warrant the reopening of his classification. In addition, a copy of the letter must be placed in the registrant's file. Id.

Of particular significance in Kelly's case is 32 C.F.R. § 1622.1(c) requiring "the local board to receive and consider all information, pertinent to the classification of a registrant, presented to it." This requirement ensures that the local board members will exercise their discretionary responsibilities and most importantly, their crucial classification function in an informed manner. Consequently, all relevant communications from or concerning registrants must be forwarded to the members by local board clerical personnel.

The record in this case is devoid of any indication that the local board members ever received or considered the information relating to appellant's resumption of his high school education. No mention of any action can be found in the minutes of the meetings of the local board. Nor is there a copy of any letter from the local board advising appellant that the information concerning his registration for high school does not warrant reopening as required by 32 C. F.R. § 1625.4. From such a silent record we cannot assume that the board members received and considered this information.

Our disposition of this case is controlled by United States v. Norman (9th Cir. 1969) 412 F.2d 629. In Norman no action was taken by the local board with respect to appellant's letter requesting a 4-D (minister) classification except to place it in his Selective Service file....