# Was draft evasion prosecuted under military law?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-draft-evasion-prosecuted-under-military-law/381254>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 21, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-draft-evasion-prosecuted-under-military-law/381254 "2006-11-21T05:27:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-draft-evasion-prosecuted-under-military-law/381254/1 "2006-11-21T05:27:06Z")

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When the US had conscription was evading the draft prosecuted by federal courts or by courts-martial?

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**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-draft-evasion-prosecuted-under-military-law/381254/2 "2006-11-21T05:32:17Z")

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Since the late 19th century, draft evasion has been prosecuted in civilian federal courts. A friend of mine got a year in the poke for refusing to register.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-draft-evasion-prosecuted-under-military-law/381254/3 "2006-11-21T06:07:34Z")

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Technically, you’re not subject to military law until you’ve taken your oath and become an official member of the armed forces. So a draft evader would have to be tried under the civilian legal system.