Civil Liberties: The Draft May Not Be Used To Silence Dissent

To protest U.S. policy in Viet Nam, 16 draft-deferred University of Michigan students took part in a sit-in at the Ann Arbor draft board in 1965. Reaction came swiftly. With the blessing of U.S. Draft Director Lewis B. Hershey, all 16 students were reclassified 1-A. That seemed to be that. Draft boards have considerable discretion, especially over student deferments. A draft registrant has no right to counsel when he appears before his local board; he can appeal his classification to higher boards, but not to federal courts.

Once inducted, he can seek habeas...