Craig Allen Keefer v. United States

Craig Allen Keefer, appellant herein, having waived a jury trial, was convicted in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona of knowingly failing and refusing to be inducted into the armed forces in violation of 50 U.S.C. App. § 462, and after the denial of a motion for a new trial, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. Appellant filed a timely motion of appeal. This court has jurisdiction to review the district court’s decision under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1291 .

Appellant, a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, registered for the draft before Local Board 14 in Yakima, Washington, on March 13, 1953. His daté of birth is January 25, 1935. In his classification questionnaire he claimed that he was a conscientious objector and filed a Special Form for Conscientious Objector on March 19,1953, claiming exemption from both combatant and noncombatant service. His claim for exemption was denied and he was classified I-A on April 6, 1953. He appealed from this classification and the Draft Board requested additional information from him concerning his claim to a classification as a conscientious objector. Appellant in reply advised the Board that ministry was his…