The ACLU has filed a suit on behalf of Tobin D. Jacobrown, a 21-year-old Quaker from Washington state. Jacobrown refused to fill out his selective service forms as they do not include the possibility to register as a conscientious objector. He says that doing so would violate his religious principles. The suit requests that a federal judge direct the Selective Service to recognize this status at the time of registration.

There has not been a draft into military service since 1973, but registration is required of young men on the possibility that it will be reinstated. The Selective Service says that there is no requirement to obtain information about conscientious objector status, since this would be a matter to be taken up with a draft board at the time of conscription.

Arthur Spitzer, an ACLU lawyer points out that in fact Selective Service could easily record this information in the registration form, and did so until 1980. Meanwhile, Jacobrown could face penalties for failure to register, and until he does, cannot get student loans or work for the federal government.

(Dave Sagarin, August 12, 2009)