Case Name: UNITED STATES, Appellee v. JOHNNIE WILLIAMS, Basic Airman, U. S. Air Force, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Military Appeals
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1958-03-14
Citations: 9 C.M.A. 36
Docket Number: No. 10,866
Parties: UNITED STATES, Appellee v JOHNNIE WILLIAMS, Basic Airman, U. S. Air Force, Appellant
Judges: Judge Latimer concurs.
Reporter: Decisions of the United States Court of Military Appeals
Volume: 9
Pages: 36–37

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES, Appellee v JOHNNIE WILLIAMS, Basic Airman, U. S. Air Force, Appellant
9 USCMA 36, 25 CMR 298
No. 10,866
Decided March 14, 1958
Lieutenant Colonel Ellis L. Gottlieb and Captain Richard C. Bochen were on the brief for Appellant, Accused.
Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Michels and Captain Lawrence J. Gross were on the brief for Appellee, United States.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court
Robert E. Quinn, Chief Judge:
The accused was convicted of the larceny of $300 from a fellow airman, in violation of Article 121, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 921. The question before us is whether the accused was prejudiced by the inclusion of unfavorable matter in the staff judge advocate's review which he did not have an opportunity to disclaim or explain. See United States v Griffin, 8 USCMA 206, 24 CMR 16.
The challenged matter is contained in certain "clemency evaluation" statements submitted by the accused's commanding officer, his first sergeant, and other persons. In substance, some of the statements implicate the accused in other acts of barracks thievery. Also included are references to the accused's involvement in a fight, his insubordination to a noncommissioned officer, and várious instances of drunkenness. Finally, some of the statements commented unfavorably on the accused's "attitude" toward his work.
In his review, the staff judge advocate "completely disregarded" the imputations of "further criminal liability" in the barracks thefts because "independent inquiry" indicated that the "accusations were based on conjecture." No> mention is made of the other purported acts of misconduct, but they are so> minor in relation to the circumstances of the offense that we are constrained to conclude that they had no measurable impact upon the convening authority. Considered as a whole, the review is thorough, and so plainly accords the accused every consideration of clemency that the failure to give him an opportunity to challenge the "new" matter in the clemency statements did not deprive him of a substantial right. See United States v Taylor, 9 USCMA 34, 25 CMR 296.
The decision of the board of review is affirmed.
Judge Latimer concurs.