Opinion ID: 376929
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Reviewability of Enlistment Contracts

Text: 6 The Navy argues initially that Lundgrin is asking the courts to interfere improperly with internal military affairs. The general rule is that discretionary military decisions concerning soldiers lawfully in the service are beyond the review of civilian courts. Orloff v. Willoughby, 345 U.S. 83, 73 S.Ct. 534, 97 L.Ed. 842 (1953). It has long been held, however, that civilian courts will construe the rights and obligations arising under an enlistment contract. United States v. Grimley, 137 U.S. 147, 11 S.Ct. 54, 34 L.Ed. 636 (1890); Quinn v. Brown, 561 F.2d 795 (9th Cir. 1977); Shelton v. Brunson, 465 F.2d 144 (5th Cir. 1972). And see Pfile v. Corcoran, 287 F.Supp. 554, 557 (D.Colo.1968), where the court, recognizing that an enlistee's status changes from civilian to soldier at the moment of enlistment, stated that this . . . change of status does not invalidate the contractual obligation of either party or prevent the contract from being upheld, under proper circumstances, by a court of law. 7 We hold that a claim alleging breach of an enlistment contract is not an internal military affair and is properly reviewable in the civilian courts.