Collapse to view only § 816. Art. 16. Courts-martial classified
- § 816. Art. 16. Courts-martial classified
- § 817. Art. 17. Jurisdiction of courts-martial in general
- § 818. Art. 18. Jurisdiction of general courts-martial
- § 819. Art. 19. Jurisdiction of special courts-martial
- § 820. Art. 20. Jurisdiction of summary courts-martial
- § 821. Art. 21. Jurisdiction of courts-martial not exclusive
§ 816. Art. 16. Courts-martial classified
(a)In General.—The three kinds of courts-martial in each of the armed forces are the following:
(1) General courts-martial, as described in subsection (b).
(2) Special courts-martial, as described in subsection (c).
(3) Summary courts-martial, as described in subsection (d).
(b)General Courts-martial.—General courts-martial are of the following three types:
(1) A general court-martial consisting of a military judge and eight members, subject to sections 825(e)(3) and 829 of this title (articles 25(e)(3) and 29).
(2) In a capital case, a general court-martial consisting of a military judge and the number of members determined under section 825a of this title (article 25a), subject to sections 825(e)(3) and 829 of this title (articles 25(e)(3) and 29).
(3) A general court-martial consisting of a military judge alone, if, before the court is assembled, the accused, knowing the identity of the military judge and after consultation with defense counsel, requests, orally on the record or in writing, a court composed of a military judge alone and the military judge approves the request.
(c)Special Courts-martial.—Special courts-martial are of the following two types:
(1) A special court-martial consisting of a military judge and four members, subject to sections 825(e)(3) and 829 of this title (articles 25(e)(3) and 29).
(2) A special court-martial consisting of a military judge alone—
(A) if the case is so referred, subject to section 819 of this title (article 19) and such limitations as the President may prescribe by regulation; or
(B) if the case is referred under paragraph (1) and, before the court is assembled, the accused, knowing the identity of the military judge and after consultation with defense counsel, requests, orally on the record or in writing, a court composed of a military judge alone and the military judge approves the request.
(d)Summary Court-martial.—A summary court-martial consists of one commissioned officer.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 42; Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(3), Oct. 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 1335; Pub. L. 98–209, § 3(a), Dec. 6, 1983, 97 Stat. 1394; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 582(a), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1124; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LIV, § 5161, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2897; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(c)(1)(C), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1597; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title V, § 531(b)(1), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 258.)
§ 817. Art. 17. Jurisdiction of courts-martial in general
(a) Each armed force has court-martial jurisdiction over all persons subject to this chapter. The exercise of jurisdiction by one armed force over personnel of another armed force shall be in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President.
(b) In all cases, departmental review after that by the officer with authority to convene a general court-martial for the command which held the trial, where that review is required under this chapter, shall be carried out by the department that includes the armed force of which the accused is a member.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 43.)
§ 818. Art. 18. Jurisdiction of general courts-martial
(a) Subject to section 817 of this title (article 17), general courts-martial have jurisdiction to try persons subject to this chapter for any offense made punishable by this chapter and may, under such limitations as the President may prescribe, adjudge any punishment not forbidden by this chapter, including the penalty of death when specifically authorized by this chapter. General courts-martial also have jurisdiction to try any person who by the law of war is subject to trial by a military tribunal and may adjudge any punishment permitted by the law of war.
(b) A general court-martial of the kind specified in section 816(b)(3) of this title (article 16(b)(3)) shall not have jurisdiction to try any person for any offense for which the death penalty may be adjudged unless the case has been previously referred to trial as a noncapital case.
(c) Consistent with sections 819 and 820 of this title (articles 19 and 20), only general courts-martial have jurisdiction over the following offenses:
(1) A violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 920 of this title (article 120).
(2) A violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 920b of this title (article 120b).
(3) An attempt to commit an offense specified in paragraph (1) or (2) that is punishable under section 880 of this title (article 80).
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 43; Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(4), Oct. 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 1335; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title XVII, § 1705(b), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 959; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LIV, § 5162, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2898.)
§ 819. Art. 19. Jurisdiction of special courts-martial
(a)In General.—Subject to section 817 of this title (article 17), special courts-martial have jurisdiction to try persons subject to this chapter for any noncapital offense made punishable by this chapter and, under such regulations as the President may prescribe, for capital offenses. Special courts-martial may, under such limitations as the President may prescribe, adjudge any punishment not forbidden by this chapter except death, dishonorable discharge, dismissal, confinement for more than one year, hard labor without confinement for more than three months, forfeiture of pay exceeding two-thirds pay per month, or forfeiture of pay for more than one year.
(b)Additional Limitation.—Neither a bad-conduct discharge, nor confinement for more than six months, nor forfeiture of pay for more than six months may be adjudged if charges and specifications are referred to a special court-martial consisting of a military judge alone under section 816(c)(2)(A) of this title (article 16(c)(2)(A)).
(c)Military Magistrate.—If charges and specifications are referred to a special court-martial consisting of a military judge alone under section 816(c)(2)(A) of this title (article 16(c)(2)(A)), the military judge, with the consent of the parties, may designate a military magistrate to preside over the special court-martial.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 43; Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(5), Oct. 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 1335; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 577(a), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 625; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1048(g)(4), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1228; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LIV, § 5163, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2898.)
§ 820. Art. 20. Jurisdiction of summary courts-martial
(a)In General.—Subject to section 817 of this title (article 17), summary courts-martial have jurisdiction to try persons subject to this chapter, except officers, cadets, aviation cadets, and midshipmen, for any noncapital offense made punishable by this chapter. No person with respect to whom summary courts-martial have jurisdiction may be brought to trial before a summary court-martial if he objects thereto. If objection to trial by summary court-martial is made by an accused, trial may be ordered by special or general court-martial as may be appropriate. Summary courts-martial may, under such limitations as the President may prescribe, adjudge any punishment not forbidden by this chapter except death, dismissal, dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge, confinement for more than one month, hard-labor without confinement for more than 45 days, restriction to specified limits for more than two months, or forfeiture of more than two-thirds of one month’s pay.
(b)Non-criminal Forum.—A summary court-martial is a non-criminal forum. A finding of guilty at a summary court-martial does not constitute a criminal conviction.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 43; Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(6), Oct. 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 1336; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LIV, § 5164, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2899.)
§ 821. Art. 21. Jurisdiction of courts-martial not exclusive
The provisions of this chapter conferring jurisdiction upon courts-martial do not deprive military commissions, provost courts, or other military tribunals of concurrent jurisdiction with respect to offenders or offenses that by statute or by the law of war may be tried by military commissions, provost courts, or other military tribunals. This section does not apply to a military commission established under chapter 47A of this title.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 44; Pub. L. 109–366, § 4(a)(2), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2631.)