wayte argued november decided march july presidential proclamation directed certain young male citizens register selective service system specified week petitioner fell within prescribed class register instead wrote letters government officials including president stating registered intend letters added selective service file young men advised failed register reported others failed register subsequently selective service adopted policy passive enforcement investigate prosecute nonregistration cases contained file furtherance policy selective service june sent letter reported nonregistrant warning failure register result criminal prosecution petitioner received letter respond thereafter selective service transmitted department justice investigation potential prosecution names petitioner others identified passive enforcement policy department justice screening appeared required register referred remaining names federal bureau investigation appropriate attorneys petitioner name one referred pursuant department justice beg policy whereby attorneys assisted fbi made effort persuade nonregistrants change minds attorney petitioner district sent letter urging register face possible prosecution petitioner failed respond register authorized grace period urging fbi agents accordingly indicted knowingly willfully failing register violation military selective service act district dismissed indictment ground government failed rebut petitioner prima facie case selective prosecution appeals reversed holding although petitioner shown others similarly situated prosecuted conduct similar shown government focused investigation protest activities held government passive enforcement policy together beg policy violate either first fifth amendment pp selective prosecution claims may appropriately judged according ordinary equal protection standards standards require petitioner show passive enforcement policy discriminatory effect motivated discriminatory purpose petitioner met burden shown eventually prosecuted along many prosecuted reported violated law shown enforcement policy selected nonregistrants prosecution basis speech fact government prosecuted nonregistrants reported reported others demonstrates government treated reported nonregistrants equally subject vocal nonregistrants special burden even passive policy discriminatory effect petitioner shown government intended result absent showing government prosecuted petitioner protest activities claim selective prosecution fails pp respect first amendment government regulation justified within government constitutional power furthers important substantial governmental interest governmental interest unrelated suppression free speech incidental restriction alleged first amendment freedoms greater essential furtherance interest case neither first third requirement disputed passive enforcement policy meets second fourth requirements reasons government offers defense passive enforcement policy promotes prosecutorial efficiency nonregistrants letters selective service provided strong evidence intent comply prosecution visible nonregistrants efficient way promote general deterrence sufficiently compelling satisfy second requirement either reported reported others passive enforcement policy meets fourth requirement placed limitation speech necessary ensure registration effective interim solution available carry government compelling interest pp powell delivered opinion burger white blackmun rehnquist stevens joined marshall filed dissenting opinion brennan joined post mark rosenbaum argued cause petitioner briefs dan stormer mary ellen gale dennis perluss dan marmalefsky laurence tribe william smith burt neuborne solicitor general lee argued cause brief assistant attorney general trott deputy solicitor general frey mark levy john de pue dennis curtis filed brief central committee conscientious objectors et al amici curiae urging reversal david crump filed brief legal foundation america amicus curiae urging affirmance justice powell delivered opinion question presented whether passive enforcement policy government prosecutes report violated law reported others violates first fifth amendments july pursuant authority military selective service act stat amended app president issued presidential proclamation cfr proclamation directed male citizens certain male residents born register selective service system week july petitioner fell within class register instead wrote several letters government officials including president stating registered intend petitioner letters added selective service file young men advised failed register reported others failed register reasons discuss infra selective service adopted policy passive enforcement investigate prosecute cases nonregistration contained file furtherance policy selective service sent letter june reported violator registered address letter explained duty register stated selective service information person required register done requested either comply law filling enclosed registration card explain subject registration warned violation result criminal prosecution specified penalties petitioner received copy letter respond july selective service transmitted department justice investigation potential prosecution names petitioner young men identified passive enforcement system registered response service june letter two later dates referred names young men similarly identified screening names appeared class required register department justice referred remaining names federal bureau investigation additional inquiry attorneys districts nonregistrants resided petitioner name one referred pursuant department justice policy referred immediately prosecuted instead appropriate attorney required notify identified nonregistrants registered mail unless registered within specified time prosecution considered addition fbi agent usually sent interview nonregistrant prosecution instituted effort persuade nonregistrants change minds became known beg policy young men registered late prosecuted never registered investigated government pursuant beg policy attorney central district california sent petitioner letter october urging register face possible prosecution petitioner failed respond december department justice instructed attorneys begin seeking indictments nonregistrants notice january president announced grace period afford nonregistrants opportunity register without penalty grace period extended february petitioner still register next months department decided begin prosecuting young men despite grace period beg policy continued refuse register recognized passive enforcement system prosecuted liable vocal proponents nonregistration persons religious moral objections memorandum march lawrence lippe chief general litigation legal advice section criminal division department justice lowell jensen assistant attorney general criminal division app also recognized prosecutions undoubtedly result allegations case brought retribution nonregistrant exercise first amendment rights ibid department advised however selective service develop active enforcement system quite time see infra department decided begin seeking indictments passive system without delay may attorneys notified begin prosecution nonregistrants june fbi agents interviewed petitioner continued refuse register accordingly july indictment returned knowingly willfully failing register selective service violation military selective service act stat amended app one first indictments returned individual passive policy ii petitioner moved dismiss indictment ground selective prosecution contended indicted nonregistrants vocal opponents registration program impermissibly targeted estimated nonregistrants prosecution basis exercise first amendment rights hearing district central district california granted petitioner broad request discovery directed government produce certain documents make certain officials available testify government produced documents agreed make government officials available citing executive privilege withheld documents testimony october district ordered government produce disputed documents witness government declined comply november asked district dismiss indictment order allow appeal challenging discovery order petitioner asked dismissal several grounds including discriminatory prosecution november district dismissed indictment ground government failed rebut petitioner prima facie case selective prosecution following precedents appeals ninth circuit district found order establish prima facie case petitioner prove others similarly situated generally prosecuted conduct similar petitioner ii government discriminatory selection based impermissible grounds race religion exercise first amendment rights supp petitioner satisfied first requirement district held shown prosecuted vocal nonregistrants inference strong government located chose district found second requirement satisfied three reasons first passive enforcement program inherently suspect focuse upon vocal offender vulnerable charge chosen prosecution punished expression ideas constitutionally protected right quoting steele second government awareness disproportionate number vocal nonregistrants prosecuted passive enforcement system indicated petitioner prosecuted exercise first amendment rights finally involvement high government officials prosecution decisions strongly suggest ed impermissible selective prosecution district held government failed rebut prima facie case appeals reversed applying test found first requirement satisfied second first satisfied petitioner showing estimated nonregistrants indicted vocal nonregistrants second requirement appeals held petitioner show government focused investigation protest activities ibid petitioner evidence however showed government aware passive enforcement system result prosecutions primarily two types men religious moral objectors vocal objectors government recognized latter type probably make claims selective prosecution finding evidence impermissible governmental motivation held district finding prima facie case selective prosecution clearly erroneous appeals also found two legitimate explanations government passive enforcement system identities nonreported nonregistrants known ii nonregistrants expressed refusal register made clear willful violation law recognizing importance question presented division circuits granted certiorari question selective prosecution affirm iii criminal justice system government retains broad discretion prosecute goodwin accord marshall jerrico long prosecutor probable cause believe accused committed offense defined statute decision whether prosecute charge file bring grand jury generally rests entirely discretion bordenkircher hayes broad discretion rests largely recognition decision prosecute particularly judicial review factors strength case prosecution general deterrence value government enforcement priorities case relationship government overall enforcement plan readily susceptible kind analysis courts competent undertake judicial supervision area moreover entails systemic costs particular concern examining basis prosecution delays criminal proceeding threatens chill law enforcement subjecting prosecutor motives decisionmaking outside inquiry may undermine prosecutorial effectiveness revealing government enforcement policy substantial concerns make courts properly hesitant examine decision whether prosecute noted slightly different context however although prosecutorial discretion broad unfettered selectivity enforcement criminal laws subject constitutional constraints batchelder omitted particular decision prosecute may deliberately based upon unjustifiable standard race religion arbitrary classification bordenkircher hayes supra quoting oyler boles including exercise protected statutory constitutional rights see goodwin supra appropriate judge selective prosecution claims according ordinary equal protection standards see oyler boles supra prior cases standards require petitioner show passive enforcement system discriminatory effect motivated discriminatory purpose personnel administrator massachusetts feeney arlington heights metropolitan housing development washington davis petitioner shown eventually prosecuted along many prosecuted reported violated law shown enforcement policy selected nonregistrants prosecution basis speech indeed done given way beg policy carried government prosecute reported later registered prosecute protested registration report reported others fact government even investigate wrote letters selective service criticizing registration unless letters stated affirmatively refused comply law affidavit edward frankle special assistant director selective service compliance app government hand prosecute people reported reported others publicly protest facts demonstrate government treated reported nonregistrants similarly subject vocal nonregistrants special burden indeed prosecuted effect selected prosecution refusing register reported warned government even passive policy discriminatory effect petitioner shown government intended result evidence presented demonstrated government aware passive enforcement policy result prosecution vocal objectors probably make selective prosecution claims noted however discriminatory purpose implies intent awareness consequences implies decisionmaker selected reaffirmed particular course action least part merely spite adverse effects upon identifiable group personnel administrator massachusetts feeney supra footnotes citations omitted present case petitioner shown government prosecuted protest activities absent showing claim selective prosecution fails iv petitioner also challenges passive enforcement policy directly first amendment grounds particular claims ven though government passive enforcement policy overtly punish protected speech inevitably created regulatory system concomitantly disparate impact nonregistrants brief petitioner held speech nonspeech elements combined course conduct sufficiently important governmental interest regulating nonspeech element justify incidental limitations first amendment freedoms government regulation justified within constitutional power government furthers important substantial governmental interest governmental interest unrelated suppression free expression incidental restriction alleged first amendment freedoms greater essential furtherance interest doubt passive enforcement policy meets second condition interests compelling nation need ensure security well remember freedom know suppressed many countries unless society capability defend aggressions others constitutional protections sort little meaning recognizing fact framers listed provid ing common defence preamble motivating purpose constitution granted congress power provide common defence general welfare art cl see also federalist nos moreover long held power raise support armies broad sweeping supra accord lichter selective draft law cases power classify conscript manpower military service beyond question supra quoting lichter supra accord selective draft law cases supra principles mind three reasons government offers defense particular enforcement policy sufficiently compelling satisfy second requirement either reported reported others first relying reports nonregistration government able identify prosecute violators without delay although still necessary investigate reported make sure required register government search actively names likely violators search difficult costly time indeed costly step active prosecution system involving thousands nonregistrants passive enforcement program thus promoted prosecutorial efficiency second letters written selective service provided strong perhaps conclusive evidence nonregistrant intent comply one elements offense third prosecuting visible nonregistrants thought effective way promote general deterrence especially since failing proceed publicly known offenders encourage others violate law passive enforcement policy also meets final requirement test placed limitation speech necessary ensure registration national defense passive enforcement subject vocal nonregistrants special burden supra also intended interim enforcement system although selective service engaged developing active enforcement program investigated petitioner found practicable way obtaining names current addresses likely nonregistrants eventually obtained matching state driver license records social security files took time however obtain necessary authorizations set system passive enforcement effective interim solution available carry government compelling interest think important note final matter far implications petitioner first amendment argument extend strictly speaking argument concern passive enforcement concerns identifies apply nonregistrants report even selective service engaged active enforcement example nonregistrant wrote letter informing selective service failure register prosecuted active system claim selective service prosecuting protest case justification believing letter focused inquiry upon prosecution either context equally burden exercise first amendment rights petitioner view government constitutionally prosecute even active enforcement system unless perhaps prove prosecuted without letter principle view allow criminal obtain immunity prosecution simply reporting claiming order protest law first amendment confers immunity prosecution conclude government passive enforcement system together beg policy violated neither first fifth amendment accordingly affirm judgment appeals ordered footnotes shall duty every male citizen every male person residing day days fixed first subsequent registration ages eighteen present submit registration time times place places manner shall determined proclamation president rules regulations prescribed hereunder august example petitioner wrote president selective service system letter president stated decided obey conscience rather law register draft never register draft ever cooperate military system despite laws might break consequences may befall app six months later petitioner sent second letter selective service last august wrote inform intention register draft well register still plan never thus far received reply letter much less news prosecutions must interpret silence meaning busy disorganized respond letters keep track us youth keep posted whereabouts record indicates young men selective service referred department justice indicted time district considered case march three men indicted approximately indicted either registered found subject registration requirements found continuing investigation record indicate many fell category july selective service stated young men registered estimated required selective service prosecutions oversight hearing subcommittee courts civil liberties administration justice house committee judiciary amounted nonregistration rate approximately percent district also decided various statutory regulatory claims particular held presidential proclamation improperly promulgated dismissed indictment ground well supp appeals ninth circuit reversed particular holding affirmed district rejection remaining regulatory claims constitutional claim issue decide issue dissent sees central case whether wayte earned right discover government documents relevant claim selective prosecution post even substance discovery issue neither raised petition certiorari briefed merits raised oral argument wayte simply asserted claim term misleading insofar suggests indicated made public statements opposing registration cases statement made nonregistrant prior indictment letter government declaring refusal register one judge dissented ground passive enforcement system represented deliberate policy designed punish communicated violation law others schroeder dissenting finding enforcement procedure focusing solely upon vocal offenders inherently suspect shifted burden persuasion discriminatory intent government compare eklund en banc upholding criminal conviction passive enforcement scheme cert pending schmucker ordering hearing selective prosecution claim cert pending although fifth amendment unlike fourteenth contain equal protection clause contain equal protection component bolling sharpe approach fifth amendment equal protection claims precisely equal protection claims fourteenth amendment weinberger wiesenfeld showing discriminatory intent necessary equal protection claim based overtly discriminatory classification see strauder west virginia claim presented petitioner argue passive policy discriminated face dissent argues wayte made nonfrivolous showing three elements prima facie case established context grand jury selection castaneda partida neither parties courts however discussed prima facie case terms rather used phrase refer whether wayte made showing unrebutted directly establish discriminatory effect purpose even applying standards grand jury selection context however believe wayte failed establish prima facie case example although dissent describes first element merely whether individual member recognizable distinct class post clear reasons discuss infra page wayte established first element actually defined castaneda whether individual member identifiable group recognizable distinct class singled different treatment laws written applied emphasis added reasons believe wayte failed establish castaneda elements particularly third furthermore even assuming wayte make kind prima facie case beg policy rebut dissent also argues yick wo hopkins decided differently approach take today post misunderstanding stems belief government intentionally discriminated defining pool potential prosecutees case post premise however mistakes facts prosecution pool consisted reported nonregistrants vocal nonregistrants evidence government intent prosecute individuals exercise first amendment rights petitioner alleges passive enforcement policy violated right free speech right petition argue burdened right differently view claims essentially although right petition right free speech separate guarantees related generally subject constitutional analysis see naacp claiborne hardware initial matter note doubt petitioner demonstrated injury first amendment rights government beg policy removed burden passive enforcement placed free expression policy nonregistrants protest registration still avoid danger prosecution simply registering reported selective service nonregistrants satisfied obligation thereafter continue protest registration matter strong protest registration immunized prosecution strictly speaking passive enforcement system penalized continued violation military selective service act speech right burdened asserted right register right without foundation either constitution history country see selective draft law cases section military selective service act stat amended app provides criminal nonregistrant must evad refus register conviction courts uniformly required government prove failure register knowing boucher rabb neither party contests requirement selective service tried use social security records found addresses hopelessly stale law gain useful access internal revenue service records recognized federal source generally accurate information justice marshall justice brennan joins dissenting decides today petitioner shown government prosecuted protest activities remands permit prosecution go forward however interesting question decided may necessary disposition case instead issue must grapple far less momentous less deserving thoughtful treatment must decide whether wayte earned right discover government documents relevant claim selective prosecution district ordered discovery government refused comply district dismissed indictment appeals reversed grounds wayte failed prevail merits selective prosecution claim discovery order improper wayte entitled obtain evidence currently government possession dismiss claim basis evidence record prevail wayte needs show district applied correct legal standard abuse discretion determining made nonfrivolous showing selective prosecution entitling discovery doubt wayte sustained burden therefore claim properly dismissed stage litigation respectfully dissent decision order understand precise nature legal question important review detail posture case comes us july indictment filed district central district california charged wayte knowingly willfully failing register draft september wayte moved indictment dismissed ground selective prosecution support claim presented exhibits internal justice department memoranda discussing mechanism prosecution individuals failed register draft report general accounting office discussing alternatives registration program statement director selective service subcommittee courts civil liberties administration justice house judiciary committee transcript meeting department defense military manpower task force according wayte evidence supported claim government designed prosecutorial scheme purposefully discriminated chosen exercise first amendment right oppose draft registration wayte argued demonstrated sufficient facts claim selective prosecution entitled evidentiary hearing issue regard wayte moved discover variety government documents asserted relevant selective prosecution claim indicated intention subpoena seven witnesses including edwin meese iii counsellor president september district found motion dismiss indictment ground selective prosecution following day held hearing parties presented disagreements wayte discovery requests district granted wayte requests denied others ordered government submit documents camera inspection hearing october district denied government motion reconsideration discovery order postponed ruling requested subpoenas preliminary evidentiary hearing wayte selective prosecution claim hearing held october two witnesses testified david kline senior legal advisor justice department criminal division richard romero assistant attorney central district california principal prosecutor wayte case kline testimony dealt extensively justice department policies prosecuting individuals violated statute nonevidentiary hearing october district ruled portions three many documents submitted camera turned defense three documents question previously given defense expurgated fashion certain parts however district determined defense need still undisclosed materials outweighed government interest nondisclosure specifically district ordered disclosure two sentences one paragraph one letter one paragraph two memoranda district also indicated documents submitted camera review redacted manner made incomprehensible government less eager comply district order october government response order indicated paragraph later stricken government request following admonishment district obvious appetite irrelevant disclosures sensitive information become insatiable also apparent new disclosure made pursuant deadlines feels compelled impugn motives government record doc saga continued october district ordered production camera review unredacted versions documents previously submitted redacted form government eventually complied order october district ordered certain portions documents turned defense list documents kept seal district applied standard determining whether assertion executive privilege valid announced nixon determined applying balancing test nixon facts finds scales justice tip decidedly favor defendant right review several documents inspected camera government generalized assertion deliberative process executive privilege must yield defendant specific need documents determined must released mr wayte record doc government refused comply district order october explained position important governmental interests stake connection claim privilege sincerely believe shown overridden case concur conclusion sufficient basis established justify requiring appearance testimony official senior counsellor president contrary finding order october believe record amply demonstrates decisions relating prosecution nonregistrants made within department justice therefore nexus white house selection defendant prosecution record doc made findings district turned merits wayte underlying claim found wayte gone beyond satisfying standard obtaining discovery fact made prima facie case selective prosecution result burden shifted government prove policy based impermissible motives district found government failed rebut wayte prima facie case appeal appeals ninth circuit government conceded event triggered dismissal selective prosecution government declination following surrender presidential documents comply orders directing certain documents furnished defense presidential counsellor edwin meese made available witness brief government gave two reasons refusal comply district order first maintained wayte even meet colorable basis test trigger discovery obligation part government second argued wayte shown particularized need privileged materials sufficiently substantial outweigh asserted need preserve confidentiality government acknowledged district applied correct standard evaluating claims privilege set nixon supra government however disagreed manner district weighed relevant factors brief ninth circuit wayte argued one independent basis dismissal indictment government refused comply district lawful discovery orders brief appellee pp wayte brief clearly stated indictment properly dismissed basis alone connection wayte argued alleged sufficient facts take selective prosecution claim beyond frivolous stage district orders concerned materials relevant claim propriety discovery orders must reviewed abuse discretion standard district abused discretion ordering discovery case district properly rejected government claim privilege divided panel appeals ninth circuit reversed dismissal wayte indictment writing majority judge wright focused primarily merits underlying selective prosecution claim concluded record wayte failed show selected prosecution exercise constitutional rights appeals dealt government failure comply discovery order one brief paragraph wayte made initial showing selective prosecution entitled discovery government documents access documents might helpful entitle discovery government refusal comply discovery orders justified citations omitted ii streamlined account stormy proceedings makes clear legal perspective case first foremost discovery dispute district correctly resolved discovery issue wayte entitled additional evidence entitled additional evidence reject claim merits basis evidence wayte access time district proceedings question whether discovery order appropriate breaks three narrower inquiries first whether wayte made sufficient showing selective prosecution entitled discovery second whether documents testimony ordered released relevant wayte selective prosecution claim whether scope discovery appropriate third whether wayte need materials outweighed government assertion executive privilege appeals dealt first questions finding adequate showing made thus decision incorrect proper disposition case remand appeals determination second third questions certainly position perform inquiries documents stake submitted district camera review us inquiry leads resolution narrow discovery question showing must defendant make obtain discovery claim selective prosecution standard appellate review district finding required showing made courts appeals adopted standard defendant establishes right discovery show colorable basis selective prosecution claim see murdock cammisano berrios berrigan make showing defendant must allege sufficient facts support selective prosecution claim take question past frivolous state hazel erne general defendant must present evidence tending show existence essential elements defense berrios supra standard district applied case consistent exhortation need develop relevant facts adversary system fundamental comprehensive ends criminal justice defeated judgments founded partial speculative presentation facts nixon also recognizes relevant proof selective prosecution cases normally government hands cf poller columbia broadcasting system time standard adequately protects government attempts defense seek discovery means harassment delay see murdock supra respect second determination concerns appropriate scope review doubt trial judges enjoy great deference discovery matters district decisions discovery therefore subject plenary review appeal instead reviewed standard stated nixon enforcement pretrial subpoena duces tecum must necessarily committed sound discretion trial since necessity subpoena often turns upon determination factual issues without determination arbitrariness trial finding without record support appellate ordinarily disturb finding applicant subpoena complied federal rule criminal procedure appeals however even mention appropriate standard review much less explain apply extent conclusory statements shed light basis decision appears appeals performed de novo inquiry review especially inappropriate case given painstaking care district took supervising discovery process narrowly tailored scope rulings iii proper starting point consider whether district abused discretion determining wayte presented sufficient facts support nonfrivolous claim selective prosecution believe district acted well within scope discretion evaluate merit wayte claim consider elements prima facie case selective prosecution ascertain whether wayte made nonfrivolous showing existence elements important bear mind stage wayte need made full prima facie case order entitled discovery prima facie case course one unrebutted lead finding selective prosecution shifts government burden rebutting presumption unconstitutional action see rose mitchell duren missouri castaneda partida alexander louisiana defendant need meet high burden get discovery standard discovery merely nonfrivolousness moreover wayte need convince need persuade appeals made finding nonfrivolousness sat finder fact needs show district finding nonfrivolousness constitute abuse discretion see cammisano berrios turn consider whether sufficient showing made correctly points wayte selective prosecution claims must judged according ordinary equal protection standards ante see oyler boles yick wo hopkins wayte presents equal protection challenge passive enforcement system selective service refers justice department investigation possible prosecution names young men fall two categories wrote selective service said refused register whose neighbors others reported persons refused register app wayte argues scheme purposefully singled individuals result exercise first amendment rights see brief appellee pp make prima facie case wayte must show first member recognizable distinct class second must show disproportionate number class selected investigation possible prosecution third must show selection procedure subject abuse otherwise neutral castaneda partida supra inquiry whether wayte presented sufficient evidence elements show claim frivolous wayte clearly established first element prima facie case record demonstrates unequivocally wayte member class vocal opponents government draft registration program members class exercised first amendment right speak freely petition government redress grievances either reported reported others failed register draft establish second element wayte must show passive enforcement policy identified investigation possible prosecution disproportionate number vocal opponents draft registration record stands given government refusal comply district discovery order contain breakdown many approximately young men referred selective service justice department vocal however record suggests responsible officials justice department aware vast majority individuals vocal opponents draft registration example draft letter prepared david kline justice department official responsible overall enforcement draft registration law assistant attorney general jensen send herbert puscheck selective service associate director plans operations stated unfortunately believe government initiates prosecutions present passive identification scheme place exists real risk lose least initial cases high probability persons write service persons reported others vocal proponents since passive identification scheme necessarily means enormous numbers neither identified prosecuted prosecution vocal undoubtedly lead claims prosecution brought retribution exercise first amendment rights indeed present univers hundreds thousands chances quiet prosecuted probably chances struck lightning app emphasis added citation omitted selective service enforcement program presently passive brought service attention either report others report consequently first prosecutions liable consist large sample persons object religious moral grounds persons publicly refuse register third element decision implement passive enforcement system certainly decision susceptible abuse indeed exceptional area national life conscientious opposition government policy intertwined violations laws implement policy falk en banc fairchild concurring correlation vocal opposition violations law makes relatively easy punish speech guise enforcing laws enforcement scheme implemented full knowledge effects particularly harsh vocal opponents government policies see app quoted supra page cf government recognized passive program potentially serious first amendment problems knowledge makes scheme directly vulnerable charge purpose punish individuals exercise first amendment rights recognized dherence particular policy practice full knowledge predictable effects adherence one factor among others may considered determining whether decision based impermissible ground columbus board education penick see also personnel administrator massachusetts feeney marshall dissenting discern purposes underlying facially neutral policies considered foreseeability disproportionate impact steele thus wayte established first third elements prima facie case presented colorable claim second result thus doubt district abuse discretion found wayte equal protection claim frivolous course viewed case lens instead focusing elements prima facie case whether wayte presented sufficient evidence existence elements earn right discover relevant information government possession leaps two issues proceeds directly merits equal protection claim analysis flawed two respects first shown ignores simple fact wayte entitled discovery claim rejected merits lack evidence second equal importance errs manner analyzes merits equal protection claim simply focuses wrong problem government treated reported nonregistrants similarly prosecuted effect selected prosecution refusing register reported warned government ante issues irrelevant correct disposition case claim justice department discriminated among known violators draft registration law either administration beg policy gave individuals option registering avoid prosecution prosecuting reported nonregistrants instead claim system department defined class possible prosecutees passive enforcement system designed discriminate exercised first amendment rights governmental action stand undertaken discriminatory intent clearly stated agent state pursue course action whose objective penalize person reliance legal rights patently unconstitutional bordenkircher hayes see also goodwin government intentionally discriminated defining pool potential prosecutees immunize liability merely showing used permissible methods choosing prosecute previously tainted pool cf connecticut teal flawed approach equal protection violation yick wo hopkins seminal selective prosecution decision yick wo reversed conviction municipal ordinance prohibited construction wooden laundries without license held conviction stand municipal licensors discriminatorily denied licenses individuals chinese origin focused prosecutions found discrimination choice among violators ordinance individuals prosecuted indeed one violators chinese origin instead properly focused official action led prosecutions yick wo prior action discriminatory denial licenses affected definition class prosecutes chosen case referrals made selective service justice department investigation possible prosecution played similar role may also discriminatory issue directed attention suggest prosecutions undertaken pursuant passive enforcement schemes warrant evidentiary hearings question selective prosecution violations law closely intertwined political activity speech issue unpalatable government discriminatory effect conceded need hearing significant way opens door onslaught hearings less compelling contexts believe wayte raised sufficient questions government intentions entitled obtain access evidence government possession therefore dissent outright dismissal equal protection claim expressly refuses consider question whether wayte earned right discover relevant government documents maintains claim properly asserted see ante conclusion quite surprising grant certiorari case limited question presented petition focused conflict among federal circuits wayte offered one reason granting certiorari question direct conflict sixth ninth circuits issue concerning exercise first amendment rights particularly view pending prosecutions circuits raising identical question justifies grant certiorari review judgment pet cert emphasis added addition extent chooses address merits wayte selective prosecution claim ante must also decide antecedent discovery question first merits constitutional claim briefed certainly better presented wayte discovery claim second makes little sense decide whether time government chose ignore district discovery order wayte amassed sufficient evidence prove government acted discriminatory manner threshold question course whether wayte presented enough evidence constitutional violation entitled documents government possession entitled discovery merits addressed record complete finally curious professes concern whether discovery issue properly presented indeed chooses address wayte claim prosecution scheme placed direct burden exercise first amendment rights ante claim presented ruled upon district presented ruled upon appeal raised wayte petition certiorari extent discusses claim ground wayte constitutional claims interrelated must also discuss threshold constitutional claim whether wayte made sufficient showing constitutional violation entitled discovery none evidence presented government district places serious question existence three elements mind wayte claim passive enforcement scheme placed direct burden first amendment freedoms ante addressed stage litigation materials wayte sought discover well may entitled discover relevant claim appeals resolve issue access evidence remand resolution merits wayte claims await final determination issue