David M. Quinn v. Melvin Laird, Etc., Joseph P. Hand v. Melvin Laird, Etc.

On March 7, 1969, appellants Quinn and Hand filed petitions for writs of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California seeking release from the United States Army on the grounds of conscientious objection. The district court, relying on Craycroft v. Ferrall, 408 F.2d 587 (9th Cir. 1969), dismissed the petitions upon the ground that petitioners had not exhausted all military administrative remedies, “namely a petition to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 1552 , 32 CFR 581.3.” During the pendency of timely appeals to this court, on June 4, 1969 (Hand) and June 25, 1969 (Quinn), the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records denied appellants any relief. The grounds upon which the district court denied relief by way of habeas corpus are thus no longer present.

In addition, in a supplemental brief filed upon these appeals, the appellees have abandoned any exhaustion of remedies defense in these cases.

Accordingly, it appears that the case of each appellant is in proper posture for determination on the merits by the district court. The order of the district court dismissing the petitions for…