United States v. Camilo E. Mejia-Castillo Historic Case

At a Glance

Date Filed: 

August 5, 2009

Current Status 

On January 15, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces refused to hear Mr. Mejia's appeal.

Co-Counsel 

Font & Glazer, Citizen Soldier, and former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark

Client(s) 

Camilo E. Mejia-Castillo

Case Description 

Camilo E. Mejia is a former staff sergeant with the Florida National Guard who, in 2004, after over eight years of military service and a five-month tour in ar-Ramadi in southern Iraq, became the first Iraq war veteran to openly refuse to redeploy.  Mr. Mejia based his refusal on his growing moral opposition to the war and to the specific orders given to his unit that involved the abuse of detainees.

As a result of his actions, Mr. Mejia faced a military court-martial and was charged with desertion with the intent to avoid hazardous duty.  On May 21, 2004, he was sentenced to 12 months in a military prison, reduced in rank from staff sergeant to private, and given a bad conduct discharge.  Mr. Mejia appealed the conviction and sentence to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, which affirmed both the findings and the punishment.

The Center for Constitutional Rights and co-counsel filed a petition on Mr. Mejia's behalf requesting review of his case by the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and seeking a reversal of his conviction, reinstatement of rank, and back pay, but the court refused to hear his appeal. CCR has represented U.S. soldiers and veterans in a variety of venues, and has a long history of opposing unjust and illegal wars.

Case Timeline

August 14, 2009

Government submits brief

August 14, 2009

Government submits brief

The government fails to file a formal response to Mr. Mejia's petition, but instead submits the same brief it had filed previously before the Army Court of Appeals.
August 5, 2009

Petition filed on Mr. Mejia's behalf

August 5, 2009

Petition filed on Mr. Mejia's behalf

The petition is filed by CCR and co-counsel Font & Glazer, Citizen Soldier, and former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.
January 15, 2010

Court refuses to hear appeal 

 

January 15, 2010

Court refuses to hear appeal 

 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces refuses to hear Mr. Mejia's appeal.