United States v. Joel Simon Meyers

J. JOSEPH SMITH, Circuit Judge

(dissenting):

I dissent. While it is true that the “Statement of Personal History” indicates that when Meyers made it out he had no intention of entering the service, the fact remains that he never was given the chance. He did report, with his overnight bag, and was entitled to an opportunity to change his mind and take the oath before being charged with a refusal to submit to induction.

In addition, I think the Allen charge was uncalled for in the circumstances of this brief trial and was necessarily coercive here, since the lone dissenter presumably knew that the judge had been informed that only one juror was holding out for acquittal.