John Daniel Owens v. United States

MURRAH, Chief Judge.

Appellant Owens, a Jehovah’s Witness, was classified by his local draft board as I-O, a conscientious objector opposed to combatant or noncombatant service in the Armed Forces. He subsequently requested a IV-D reclassification as a minister of religion, exempting him from all training and military service whatsoever. 50 U.S.C.A. App. § 456 (g). His local Board denied his request and ordered him to report for a civilian work assignment in lieu of induction. Upon refusal, he was convicted in a non-jury trial of violating § 462 of the Military Training and Service Act, 50…