Court Opinion

ID: 9637961
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 15:27:51.626461+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:02.193039
License: Public Domain

LEAHY, District Judge
(concurring in the dissent).
I fully concur in the dissenting opinion of Judge Biggs that Estep was denied due process. Instead of reversing the judgment of conviction I think a new trial should be ordered.
Estep did not get an opportunity to prove at his trial that he had failed to get due process before the draft boards. It is novel doctrine that a constitutional right depends upon what procedural technic is selected for its protection or that Congress by enactment of the Selective Service Act or any other statute may regulate the protection of any one of the master rights given by the Constitution. Neither am I convinced the Supreme Court has made it law that Estep may only challenge invasion of his con-1 stitutional right of due process by submitting to an oath of induction and then applying for a writ of habeas corpus.
When indicted for crime, it is always permissible to bring a plea of constitutional infringement before the trial judge for his critical examination. If this is not so, then protection of constitutional rights must depend upon formalistic considerations of selection of the proper writ or forum where one may tell the story of denial of such rights. If one compelled to stand criminal trial is not to be permitted to be heard on the fact of absence of due process, then the right is illusory. If the Court’s views a.re accepted, Estep has lost his right to demand due process by default because he lacked the ability to distinguish between Falbo v. United States and Billings v. Truesdell. It is my view that the trial judge should have made inquiry upon the proffer of proof to ascertain if Estep did or did not receive due process. This, he failed to do.
A new trial should be ordered.