Legal Document

346 U.S. 389 74 Supreme Court Reporter 152 98 L.Ed. 132 DICKINSONv.UNITED STATES. Number 57. Argued Nov. 12, 13, 1953. Decided 30, Mr. Hayden C. Covington, Brooklyn, N.Y., for petitioner. Robert W. Ginnane, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice CLARK delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The principal and decisive issue before us is whether there was a basis in fact denying Dickinson's claim to ministerial exemption under § 6(g) Universal Military Training Service Act, 62 Statutes-at-Large 611, 50 U.S.C.Appendix, 456(g), U.S.C.A.Appendix, 456(g).1 After selective service authorities denied his claim, Dickinson refused submit induction defiance local board's order. For this refusal he convicted, United States District Northern California,2 violating 12(a)3 Act. Appeals Ninth Circuit affirmed conviction. 203 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series 336. We granted certiorari. 345 991, 73 1136. 2 Section source exemption. It provides, pertinent part, that 'Regular or duly ordained ministers religion, as defined title, * shall be exempt from training (but not registration) title.' 16(g) embodies Congress' definition 'regular minister religion'. 3 '(1) term 'duly religion' means person who has been ordained, accordance with ceremonial, ritual, discipline church, religious sect, organization established on community faith belief, doctrines practices character, preach teach such administer rites ceremonies thereof public worship, regular customary vocation preaches teaches principles religion administers ordinances worship embodied creed organization. 4 '(2) one which member, without having formally recognized by minister. 5 '(3) does include irregularly incidentally any may have rite, sect organization, but regularly, vocation, organization.' Registrants satisfy are entitled classified IV-D. 32 Code Regulations 1622.43.4 6 Dickinson, Jehovah's Witness, originally claimed IV—D 1948, shortly after registered At time stated, classification questionnaire, 'regular' an minister, working 40 hours week radio repairman. From other documents submitted board it appeared devoted uncertain number leading two Bible study groups 'several each week' preaching public. On these facts I—A July 1950. validity at issue. 7 What decision continue him September 1950 requested reclassification based changed conditions occurring subsequent filing questionnaire 1948. Through sworn testimony personal appearance letters authorities, through affidavit David Easter, 'supervisor' Watchtower Tract Society San Francisco area, supplemented three itself, following uncontradicted facts. 8 In Spring 1949 voluntarily left 40-hour-a-week job repairman baptized, mark ordination Witnesses. August enrolled national headquarters began work full-time 'pioneer' devoting 150 month efforts. This shift activities occurred February when selection Act standstill, inductions halted.5 As January residence order assume role 'Company Servant' presiding Coalinga, California, 'Company,' encompassed 5,400-square-mile area. dedicated approximately 100 actual pioneer missionary work—delivering sermons, door-to-door preaching, conducting home studies. remaining month, studied, planned sermons discourses, wrote connected work. A substantial portion spent four meetings 'Company' congregation hall Coalinga. arranged presided over meetings, usually delivering discourses them. He also instructed prospective proper delivery 'Company's' Theocratic Ministry School. received no salary company servant lived $35 earned weekly average five repair modest income, low $15—17.50 rental apartment, self-performance household tasks, invitations various private homes enabled subsist. 9 Despite uncontroverted evidence marked change continued I—A. ruling state appeal boards, ordered report 16, 1951. reported center induction. His indictment conviction followed. 10 outset important underline elemental feature case. permit direct judicial review orders. Rather did 1917 1940 conscription Acts it,6 orders 'final.' However, Estep versus States, 1946, 327 114, pages 122—123, 66 423, page 427, 90 567, case arising said: 'The provision making decisions boards 'final' Congress chose give administrative action scope obtains statutes. courts weigh determine made justified. conformity regulations final even though they erroneous. question jurisdiction reached only if gave registrant.' 11 exemption, pointed out Senate Report accompanying 1948 'is narrow one, intended leaders faiths members generally.' S.Rep. 1268, 80th Cong., 2d Sess. 13. Certainly all reason their membership, belief Cf. Cox 1947, 332 442, 68 115, 92 59. hand, legitimate cannot be, purposes unfrocked simply because base dogma its faith. That would leave cleric. Each registrant must Act's rigid criteria Preaching teaching one's performed part-time half-time, occasionally irregularly, insufficient bring 6(g). These regularly performed. They must, statute reads, comprise registrant's 'vocation.' And since matter legislative grace, bears burden clearly establishing right exemption.7 12 think meets statutory criteria. ritual and, according here, vital test tradition religion. ordination, doctrines, manner employs diverge orthodox traditional concern ours; course purport impose orthodoxy. 13 Why, then, IV—D? argued supplied factual denial. not. minister' preclude secular employment. Many preachers, including those more sects, blessed congregations parishes capable paying them living wage. ban mete draft exemptions uneven detriment poor thus need some survive. To hold supports himself thereby lose otherwise entitled, achieve result so wisely avoided. 14 court below affirming apparently thought free disbelieve testimonial documentary absence impeaching contradictory evidence. manifested own skepticism pointing youth, unorthodox method baptism, failure present stronger leaders, Witnesses exemptions. claims were disputed presented nor cited Appeals. task cases search record affirmative support overt implicit finding painted complete accurate picture activities. found none here. 15 Local law bound rules evidence; given great leeway hearing considering variety material evidence.8 If ultimate responsibility resolving conflict—the will interfere. Nor apply 'substantial evidence.' properly insist proof incompatible oath, subpoena witnesses testify, require both produce documents. 1621.15. authorized obtain information local, state, welfare governmental agencies. 1621.14. admissions, witnesses, frequently unsolicited neighbors, obtained agencies dissidence resolve. Absent admissions evidence, call investigative federal government, suspected perjury. But supporting places prima facie within dismissal solely suspicion speculation contrary spirit foreign our concepts justice. 16 Reversed. 17 JACKSON, whom BURTON MINTON join, dissenting. 18 held criminal prosecution Selective allow prove acted classifying service. several examples acting jurisdiction, where Pennsylvania citizen resident Oregon induction, bases color applicable regulations. then statement: (Emphasis added.) import loses conclusion. ramifications theory explored clarified decisions.1 majority today squarely poses place scheme 19 When petitioner years old months. had ordained. trained engineer, still supported doing night, worked about week. conducted week, lasting hour, spoke meetings. house-to-house calls. prepared ministry, said, reading texts published taking course. filed up baptism. purportedly charge 'in 5,400 square mile section territory.' events eve view youth raised doubt good Board, citing reasons, placed Class 20 No allegation bene Board fraudulently maliciously matter. logical assumption disbelieved part petitioner's doubted particular did. itself raises suspicions, well confirmed suspicions. 21 problem inherent is, what required circumstances? do say hand subject 'the review' evidence', strike down conclusion appears record. Under today's decision, sufficient registrant. find misrepresented case—evidence put substantiality courts. short, build 22 There nothing requires result.2 contrary, whole tenor entirely hands board. philosophy obligations privileges serving armed forces should shared generally, system fair just. 604, §§ 451—471, 451—471. end decrees 'Except provided every male between ages nineteen twenty-six liable *.' 605, 454(a), 454(a). sets deferments usual rule benefit exceptions carries matters except authorized. 620, 460(b)(3), 460(b)(3). 23 Even we interpret follow lost lack comment ordinary review, continues examine purely determinations. 24 Perhaps bothers introduced against fails reasons acting, practical way trial correct standard applied. freely admit difficulty. face rather than avoid. Since look same fraudulently, misconception lw, faith, how proceed determining jurisdiction? board, silence, makes proving next impossible. 25 nevertheless misconstrued arbitrarily, scrutiny. Whether grant wholly sit here All questions final. set aside might different said puts awesome power can reply business. weighed passed realized impossible block conscription. title 'Selective 1948' 'Universal Act' 65 75. Petitioner waived jury Rule Rules Criminal Procedure, U.S.C., Annotated KF65 U5 '(A)ny refuses knowingly fail neglect refuse perform duty execution rules, regulations, directions pursuant shall, upon district competent punished imprisonment fine $10,000, sentenced years' imprisonment. Formerly regulation numbered 1622.19, 1622.19 (1949). Regular resumed Annual Director (1952). immediate threat activities, hardly show bad this. 80 (1917), 54 893 (1940). See 1622.1(c). Lehr 1944, 139 919, 922. Eagles ex rel. Samuels, 329 304, 316 317, 67 313, 319—320, 91 308; Gibson 338, 301, 331; Sunal Large, 174, 176, 1588, 1589, 1982; 448, 451—455, 119—121, file summary outside considered CFR, 1952 Cum.Supp., 1626.13. mean take securing information, nonevidentiary factors influenced summarized, summaries evaluation

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