ICAP represents Captain Joy E. Bledsoe, a West Point graduate and active-duty U.S. Army officer, in a federal lawsuit challenging the Army’s denial of her request for conscientious objector status. Captain Bledsoe’s sincerely held Christian beliefs, which deepened during her years of service, preclude her from serving in a combatant role. She sought Class 1-A-O status, a designation for conscientious objectors who remain committed to serving their country in non-combatant roles that do not require the use of arms.
After the lawsuit was filed, the Army agreed to reconsider its prior decision and on remand granted Captain Bledsoe’s request for conscientious objector status. Because of this successful resolution, the lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice.
