1. U.S. Code
  2. title 10
  3. subtitle A
  4. part II
  5. chapter 47
  6. subchapter V
  7. § 826

Collapse to view only § 826. Art. 26. Military judge of a general or special court-martial

§ 822. Art. 22. Who may convene general courts-martial
(a) General courts-martial may be convened by—
(1) the President of the United States;
(2) the Secretary of Defense;
(3) the commanding officer of a unified or specified combatant command;
(4) the Secretary concerned;
(5) the commanding officer of an Army Group, an Army, an Army Corps, a division, a separate brigade, or a corresponding unit of the Army or Marine Corps;
(6) the commander of a fleet; the commanding officer of a naval station or larger shore activity of the Navy beyond the United States;
(7) the commanding officer of an air command, an air force, an air division, or a separate wing of the Air Force or Marine Corps, or the commanding officer of a corresponding unit of the Space Force;
(8) any other commanding officer designated by the Secretary concerned; or
(9) any other commanding officer in any of the armed forces when empowered by the President.
(b)
(1) If any such commanding officer is an accuser, the court shall be convened by superior competent authority, and may in any case be convened by such authority if considered desirable by him.
(2) A commanding officer shall not be considered an accuser solely due to the role of the commanding officer in convening a general court-martial to which charges and specifications were referred by a special trial counsel in accordance with this chapter.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 44; Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 211(b), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1017; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1057(a)(2), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3440; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LV, § 5181, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2899; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(21)(A), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3824; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, § 534(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1696.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 822

§ 823. Art. 23. Who may convene special courts-martial
(a) Special courts-martial may be convened by—
(1) any person who may convene a general court-martial;
(2) the commanding officer of a district, garrison, fort, camp, station, Air Force or Space Force military installation, auxiliary air field, or other place where members of the Army, the Air Force, or the Space Force are on duty;
(3) the commanding officer of a brigade, regiment, detached battalion, or corresponding unit of the Army;
(4) the commanding officer of a wing, group, or separate squadron of the Air Force or a corresponding unit of the Space Force;
(5) the commanding officer of any naval or Coast Guard vessel, shipyard, base, or station; the commanding officer of any Marine brigade, regiment, detached battalion, or corresponding unit; the commanding officer of any Marine barracks, wing, group, separate squadron, station, base, auxiliary air field, or other place where members of the Marine Corps are on duty;
(6) the commanding officer of any separate or detached command or group of detached units of any of the armed forces placed under a single commander for this purpose; or
(7) the commanding officer or officer in charge of any other command when empowered by the Secretary concerned.
(b)
(1) If any such officer is an accuser, the court shall be convened by superior competent authority, and may in any case be convened by such authority if considered advisable by him.
(2) A commanding officer shall not be considered an accuser solely due to the role of the commanding officer in convening a special court-martial to which charges and specifications were referred by a special trial counsel in accordance with this chapter.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 44; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(21)(B), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3824; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, § 534(b), title X, § 1081(a)(13), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1696, 1920.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 823

§ 824. Art. 24. Who may convene summary courts-martial
(a) Summary courts-martial may be convened by—
(1) any person who may convene a general or special court-martial;
(2) the commanding officer of a detached company, or other detachment of the Army;
(3) the commanding officer of a detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or a corresponding unit of the Space Force; or
(4) the commanding officer or officer in charge of any other command when empowered by the Secretary concerned.
(b) When only one commissioned officer is present with a command or detachment he shall be the summary court-martial of that command or detachment and shall hear and determine all summary court-martial cases brought before him. Summary courts-martial may, however, be convened in any case by superior competent authority when considered desirable by him.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 45;

CITE AS: 10 USC 824

§ 824a. Art. 24a. Special trial counsel
(a)Detail of Special Trial Counsel.—Each Secretary concerned shall promulgate regulations for the detail of commissioned officers to serve as special trial counsel.
(b)Qualifications.—A special trial counsel shall be a commissioned officer who—
(1)
(A) is a member of the bar of a Federal court or a member of the bar of the highest court of a State; and
(B) is certified to be qualified, by reason of education, training, experience, and temperament, for duty as a special trial counsel by—
(i) the Judge Advocate General of the armed force of which the officer is a member; or
(ii) in the case of the Marine Corps, the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps; and
(2) in the case of a lead special trial counsel appointed pursuant to section 1044f(a)(2) of this title, is in a grade no lower than O–7.
(c)Duties and Authorities.—
(1)In general.—Special trial counsel shall carry out the duties described in this chapter and any other duties prescribed by the Secretary concerned, by regulation.
(2)Determination of covered offense; related charges.—
(A)Authority.—A special trial counsel shall have exclusive authority to determine if a reported offense is a covered offense and shall exercise authority over any such offense in accordance with this chapter. Any determination to prefer or refer charges shall not act to disqualify the special trial counsel as an accuser.
(B)Known and related offenses.—If a special trial counsel determines that a reported offense is a covered offense, the special trial counsel may also exercise authority over any offense that the special trial counsel determines to be related to the covered offense and any other offense alleged to have been committed by a person alleged to have committed the covered offense.
(3)Dismissal; referral; plea bargains.—Subject to paragraph (5), with respect to charges and specifications alleging any offense over which a special trial counsel exercises authority, a special trial counsel shall have exclusive authority to, in accordance with this chapter—
(A) on behalf of the Government, withdraw or dismiss the charges and specifications or make a motion to withdraw or dismiss the charges and specifications;
(B) refer the charges and specifications for trial by a special or general court-martial;
(C) enter into a plea agreement; and
(D) determine if an authorized rehearing is impracticable.
(4)Binding determination.—The determination of a special trial counsel to refer charges and specifications to a court-martial for trial shall be binding on any applicable convening authority for the referral of such charges and specifications.
(5)Deferral to commander or convening authority.—If a special trial counsel exercises authority over an offense and elects not to prefer charges and specifications for such offense or, with respect to charges and specifications for such offense preferred by a person other than a special trial counsel, elects not to refer such charges and specifications, a commander or convening authority may exercise any of the authorities of such commander or convening authority under this chapter with respect to such offense, except that such commander or convening authority may not refer charges and specifications for a covered offense for trial by special or general court-martial.
(d)Special Trial Counsel Authority Over Certain Other Offenses.—
(1)Offenses occurring before effective date.—A special trial counsel may, at the sole and exclusive discretion of the special trial counsel, exercise authority over the following offenses:
(A) An offense under section 917a (article 117a), 918 (article 118), section 919 (article 119), section 920 (article 120), section 920b (article 120b), section 920c (article 120c), section 928b (article 128b), or the standalone offense of child pornography punishable under section 934 (article 134) of this title that occurred on or before December 27, 2023.
(B) An offense under section 925 (article 125), section 930 (article 130), or section 932 (article 132) of this title that occurred on or after January 1, 2019, and before December 28, 2023.
(C) An offense under section 920a (article 120a) of this title, an offense under section 925 (article 125) of this title alleging an act of nonconsensual sodomy, or the standalone offense of kidnapping punishable under section 934 (article 134) of this title that occurred before January 1, 2019.
(D) A conspiracy to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) as punishable under section 881 of this title (article 81).
(E) A solicitation to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) as punishable under section 882 of this title (article 82).
(F) An attempt to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) as punishable under section 880 of this title (article 80).
(2)Effect of exercise of authority.—
(A)Treatment as covered offense.—If a special trial counsel exercises authority over an offense pursuant to paragraph (1), the offense over which the special trial counsel exercises authority shall be considered a covered offense for purposes of this chapter.
(B)Known or related offenses.—If a special trial counsel exercises authority over an offense pursuant to paragraph (1), the special trial counsel may exercise the authority of the special trial counsel under subparagraph (B) of subsection (c)(2) with respect to other offenses described in that subparagraph without regard to the date on which the other offenses occur.
(Added Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, § 531(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1692; amended Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title V, § 542(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2581; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title V, § 531(c)(1), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 258.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 824a

§ 825. Art. 25. Who may serve on courts-martial
(a) Any commissioned officer on active duty is eligible to serve on all courts-martial for the trial of any person who may lawfully be brought before such courts for trial.
(b) Any warrant officer on active duty is eligible to serve on general and special courts-martial for the trial of any person, other than a commissioned officer, who may lawfully be brought before such courts for trial.
(c)
(1) Any enlisted member on active duty is eligible to serve on a general or special court-martial for the trial of any other enlisted member.
(2) Before a court-martial with a military judge and members is assembled for trial, an enlisted member who is an accused may personally request, orally on the record or in writing, that—
(A) the membership of the court-martial be comprised entirely of officers; or
(B) enlisted members comprise at least one-third of the membership of the court-martial, regardless of whether enlisted members have been detailed to the court-martial.
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), after such a request, the accused may not be tried by a general or special court-martial if the membership of the court-martial is inconsistent with the request.
(4) If, because of physical conditions or military exigencies, a sufficient number of eligible officers or enlisted members, as the case may be, is not available to carry out paragraph (2), the trial may nevertheless be held. In that event, the convening authority shall make a detailed written statement of the reasons for nonavailability. The statement shall be appended to the record.
(d)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) for capital offenses, the accused in a court-martial with a military judge and members shall be sentenced by the military judge.
(2) In a capital case, if the accused is convicted of an offense for which the court-martial may sentence the accused to death, the accused shall be sentenced in accordance with section 853(c) of this title (article 53(c)).
(3) In a capital case, if the accused is convicted of a non-capital offense, the accused shall be sentenced for such non-capital offense in accordance with section 853(b) of this title (article 53(b)), regardless of whether the accused is convicted of an offense for which the court-martial may sentence the accused to death.
(e)
(1) When it can be avoided, no member of an armed force may be tried by a court-martial any member of which is junior to the member being tried in rank or grade.
(2) When convening a court-martial, the convening authority shall detail as members thereof such members of the armed forces as, in the opinion of the convening authority, are best qualified for the duty by reason of age, education, training, experience, length of service, and judicial temperament. No member of an armed force is eligible to serve as a member of a general or special court-martial when the member is the accuser or a witness for the prosecution or has acted as preliminary hearing officer or as counsel in the same case.
(3) The convening authority shall detail not less than the number of members necessary to impanel the court-martial under section 829 of this title (article 29).
(f) Before a court-martial is assembled for the trial of a case, the convening authority may excuse a member of the court from participating in the case. Under such regulations as the Secretary concerned may prescribe, the convening authority may delegate the authority of the convening authority under this subsection to the staff judge advocate or legal officer of the convening authority or to any other principal assistant.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 45; Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(7), Oct. 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 1336; Pub. L. 98–209, §§ 3(b), 13(c), Dec. 6, 1983, 97 Stat. 1394, 1408; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title VIII, § 803(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3906; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LV, § 5182, title LVI, § 5203(e)(2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2899, 2906; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title V, § 543(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2582; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title V, § 531(b)(2), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 258.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 825

§ 825a. Art. 25a. Number of court-martial members in capital cases
(a)In General.—In a case in which the accused may be sentenced to death, the number of members shall be 12.
(b)Case No Longer Capital.—Subject to section 829 of this title (article 29)—
(1) if a case is referred for trial as a capital case and, before the members are impaneled, the accused may no longer be sentenced to death, the number of members shall be eight; and
(2) if a case is referred for trial as a capital case and, after the members are impaneled, the accused may no longer be sentenced to death, the number of members shall remain 12.
(Added Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 582(b)(1), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1124; amended Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LV, § 5183, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2900.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 825a

§ 826. Art. 26. Military judge of a general or special court-martial
(a) A military judge shall be detailed to each general and special court-martial. The Secretary concerned shall prescribe regulations providing for the manner in which military judges are detailed for such courts-martial and for the persons who are authorized to detail military judges for such courts-martial. The military judge shall preside over each open session of the court-martial to which he has been detailed.
(b) A military judge shall be a commissioned officer of the armed forces who is a member of the bar of a Federal court or a member of the bar of the highest court of a State and who is certified to be qualified, by reason of education, training, experience, and judicial temperament, for duty as a military judge by the Judge Advocate General of the armed force of which such military judge is a member.
(c)
(1) In accordance with regulations prescribed under subsection (a), a military judge of a general or special court-martial shall be designated for detail by the Judge Advocate General of the armed force of which the military judge is a member.
(2) Neither the convening authority nor any member of the staff of the convening authority shall prepare or review any report concerning the effectiveness, fitness, or efficiency of the military judge so detailed, which relates to the military judge’s performance of duty as a military judge.
(3) A commissioned officer who is certified to be qualified for duty as a military judge of a general court-martial—
(A) may perform such duties only when the officer is assigned and directly responsible to the Judge Advocate General of the armed force of which the military judge is a member; and
(B) may perform duties of a judicial or nonjudicial nature other than those relating to the officer’s primary duty as a military judge of a general court-martial when such duties are assigned to the officer by or with the approval of that Judge Advocate General.
(4) In accordance with regulations prescribed by the President, assignments of military judges under this section (article) shall be for appropriate minimum periods, subject to such exceptions as may be authorized in the regulations.
(d) No person is eligible to act as military judge in a case if he is the accuser or a witness for the prosecution or has acted as preliminary hearing officer or a counsel in the same case.
(e) The military judge of a court-martial may not consult with the members of the court except in the presence of the accused, trial counsel, and defense counsel, nor may he vote with the members of the court.
(f) A military judge may be detailed under subsection (a) to a court-martial or a proceeding under section 830a of this title (article 30a) that is convened in a different armed force, when so permitted by the Judge Advocate General of the armed force of which the military judge is a member.
(g) In accordance with regulations prescribed by the President, each Judge Advocate General shall designate a chief trial judge from among the members of the applicable trial judiciary.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 46; Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(9), Oct. 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 1336; Pub. L. 98–209, § 3(c)(1), Dec. 6, 1983, 97 Stat. 1394; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LV, § 5184, title LVI, § 5203(e)(3), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2901, 2906.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 826

§ 826a. Art. 26a. Military magistrates
(a)Qualifications.—A military magistrate shall be a commissioned officer of the armed forces who—
(1) is a member of the bar of a Federal court or a member of the bar of the highest court of a State; and
(2) is certified to be qualified, by reason of education, training, experience, and judicial temperament, for duty as a military magistrate by the Judge Advocate General of the armed force of which the officer is a member.
(b)Duties.—In accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, in addition to duties when designated under section 819 or 830a of this title (article 19 or 30a), a military magistrate may be assigned to perform other duties of a nonjudicial nature.
(Added Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LV, § 5185, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2901.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 826a

§ 827. Art. 27. Detail of trial counsel and defense counsel
(a)
(1) Trial counsel and defense counsel shall be detailed for each general and special court-martial. Assistant trial counsel and assistant and associate defense counsel may be detailed for each general and special court-martial. The Secretary concerned shall prescribe regulations providing for the manner in which counsel are detailed for such courts-martial and for the persons who are authorized to detail counsel for such courts-martial.
(2) No person who, with respect to a case, has served as a preliminary hearing officer, court member, military judge, military magistrate, or appellate judge, may later serve as trial counsel, assistant trial counsel, or, unless expressly requested by the accused, as defense counsel or assistant or associate defense counsel in the same case. No person who has acted for the prosecution may act later in the same case for the defense, nor may any person who has acted for the defense act later in the same case for the prosecution.
(b) Trial counsel, defense counsel, or assistant defense counsel detailed for a general court-martial—
(1) must be a judge advocate who is a graduate of an accredited law school or is a member of the bar of a Federal court or of the highest court of a State; or must be a member of the bar of a Federal court or of the highest court of a State; and
(2) must be certified as competent to perform such duties by the Judge Advocate General of the armed force of which he is a member.
(c)
(1) Defense counsel and assistant defense counsel detailed for a special court-martial shall have the qualifications set forth in subsection (b).
(2) Trial counsel and assistant trial counsel detailed for a special court-martial and assistant trial counsel detailed for a general court-martial must be determined to be competent to perform such duties by the Judge Advocate General, under such rules as the President may prescribe.
(d) To the greatest extent practicable, in any capital case, at least one defense counsel shall, as determined by the Judge Advocate General, be learned in the law applicable to such cases. If necessary, this counsel may be a civilian and, if so, may be compensated in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
(e) For each general and special court-martial for which charges and specifications were referred by a special trial counsel—
(1) a special trial counsel shall be detailed as trial counsel; and
(2) a special trial counsel may detail other trial counsel as necessary who are judge advocates.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 46; Pub. L. 90–179, § 1(5), Dec. 8, 1967, 81 Stat. 546; Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(10), Oct. 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 1337; Pub. L. 98–209, §§ 2(d), 3(c)(2), Dec. 6, 1983, 97 Stat. 1393, 1394; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LV, § 5186, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2902; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, § 535, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1696.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 827

§ 828. Art. 28. Detail or employment of reporters and interpreters

Under such regulations as the Secretary concerned may prescribe, the convening authority of a court-martial, military commission, or court of inquiry shall detail or employ qualified court reporters, who shall record the proceedings of and testimony taken before that court or commission. Under like regulations the convening authority of a court-martial, military commission, or court of inquiry may detail or employ interpreters who shall interpret for the court or commission. This section does not apply to a military commission established under chapter 47A of this title.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 47; Pub. L. 109–366, § 4(a)(2), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2631.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 828

§ 829. Art. 29. Assembly and impaneling of members; detail of new members and military judges
(a)Assembly.—The military judge shall announce the assembly of a general or special court-martial with members. After such a court-martial is assembled, no member may be absent, unless the member is excused—
(1) as a result of a challenge;
(2) under subsection (b)(1)(B); or
(3) by order of the military judge or the convening authority for disability or other good cause.
(b)Impaneling.—
(1) Under rules prescribed by the President, the military judge of a general or special court-martial with members shall—
(A) after determination of challenges, impanel the court-martial; and
(B) excuse the members who, having been assembled, are not impaneled.
(2) In a general court-martial, the military judge shall impanel—
(A) 12 members in a capital case; and
(B) eight members in a noncapital case.
(3) In a special court-martial, the military judge shall impanel four members.
(c)Alternate Members.—In addition to members under subsection (b), the military judge shall impanel alternate members, if the convening authority authorizes alternate members.
(d)Detail of New Members.—
(1) If, after members are impaneled, the membership of the court-martial is reduced to—
(A) fewer than 12 members with respect to a general court-martial in a capital case;
(B) fewer than six members with respect to a general court-martial in a noncapital case; or
(C) fewer than four members with respect to a special court-martial;
the trial may not proceed unless the convening authority details new members and, from among the members so detailed, the military judge impanels new members sufficient in number to provide the membership specified in paragraph (2).
(2) The membership referred to in paragraph (1) is as follows:
(A) 12 members with respect to a general court-martial in a capital case.
(B) At least six but not more than eight members with respect to a general court-martial in a noncapital case.
(C) Four members with respect to a special court-martial.
(e)Detail of New Military Judge.—If the military judge is unable to proceed with the trial because of disability or otherwise, a new military judge shall be detailed to the court-martial.
(f)Evidence.—
(1) In the case of new members under subsection (d), the trial may proceed with the new members present after the evidence previously introduced is read or, in the case of audiotape, videotape, or similar recording, is played, in the presence of the new members, the military judge, the accused, and counsel for both sides.
(2) In the case of a new military judge under subsection (e), the trial shall proceed as if no evidence had been introduced, unless the evidence previously introduced is read or, in the case of audiotape, videotape, or similar recording, is played, in the presence of the new military judge, the accused, and counsel for both sides.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 47; Pub. L. 90–632, § 2(11), Oct. 24, 1968, 82 Stat. 1337; Pub. L. 98–209, § 3(d), Dec. 6, 1983, 97 Stat. 1394; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 582(c), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1124; Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LV, § 5187, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2902.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 829