Clair Laverne White v. United States

The appellant was charged with refusal to be inducted into the armed forces of the United States in violation of the Universal Military Training and Service Act, 50 U.S.C.A.Appendix, § 462. Appellant had registered with a local draft board in Los Angeles July 14, 1949, the day following his 18th birthday. In addition to his classification questionnaire he filed with the Board an executed “Special Form for Conscientious Objector”, in which he asserted that by reason of religious training and belief he was conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form and to participation in noncombatant training or service in the armed forces.

On January 15, 1951, he was classified in Class I-A-O, “conscientious objector available for noncombatant military service only.” He was notified of this ac tion and thereupon requested and was granted a personal appearance and hearing before the local board. After the hearing the board continued him in Class I-A-O. He appealed to the appeal board which reviewed his file and “determined that such registrant is not entitled to classification in either a class lower than IV-E or in Class IV-E.” The board forwarded the file to the Department of…