Falbo v. United States

The petitioner was indicted on November 12, 1942, in a federal District Court in Pennsylvania for knowingly failing to perform a duty required of him under the Selec*550tive Training and Service Act of 1940.1 The particular charge was that, after his local board had classified him as a conscientious objector, he wilfully failed to obey the board’s order to report for assignment to work of national importance.2 Admitting that his refusal to obey the order was wilful, petitioner defended his conduct on the ground that he was entitled to a statutory exemption from all forms of national service,…