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The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is the foundation of the system of military justice of the armed forces of the United States. The UCMJ was established by the United States Congress in accordance with their constitutional authority, per Article I Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . . . to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval forces" of the United States. [1]
On June 30, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established 69 Articles of War to govern the conduct of the Continental Army. [2] [3]
Effective upon its ratification in 1788, Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution provided that Congress has the power to regulate the land and naval forces. [4] [5] [3] On 10 April 1806, the United States Congress enacted 101 Articles of War, which were not significantly revised until over a century later. [3] [6] Discipline in the sea services was provided under the Articles for the Government of the United States Navy, commonly referred to as Rocks and Shoals. [7]
The Articles of War evolved during the first half of the twentieth century and were amended in 1916 and 1920. [7] In 1948, Congress substantially reformed the Articles pursuant to the Selective Service Act of 1948, [8] but its naval counterpart remained little changed. [9] The military justice system continued to operate under the Articles of War and Articles for the Government of the Navy until May 31, 1951, when the Uniform Code of Military Justice came into effect. [10]
The UCMJ was passed by Congress on 5 May 1950, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman the next day. [11] It took effect on May 31, 1951. The word uniform in the Code's title refers to its consistent application to all the armed services in place of the earlier Articles of War, Articles of Government, and Disciplinary Laws of the individual services. [12] Apart from consolidation of the existing military law, the UCMJ introduced United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. [11]
The UCMJ, the Rules for Courts-Martial (RCM) (analogous to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure), and the Military Rules of Evidence (analogous to the Federal Rules of Evidence) have evolved since their implementation. They have often paralleled the development of the federal civilian criminal justice system. In some ways, the UCMJ has been ahead of changes in the civilian criminal justice system. For example, a rights-warning statement similar to the Miranda warnings (and required in more contexts than in the civilian world where it is applicable only to custodial interrogation) was required by Article 31 a decade and a half before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Miranda v. Arizona . [13] Article 38(b) continued the 1948 Articles of War guarantee that qualified defense counsel be provided to all accused without regard to indigence (and at earlier stages than required in civilian jurisdictions), [14] whereas the U.S. Supreme Court only guaranteed the provision of counsel to indigents in Gideon v. Wainwright . [15]
The role of what was originally a court-martial's non-voting "law member" developed into the present office of military judge whose capacity is little different from that of an Article III judge in a U.S. district court. At the same time, the "court-martial" itself, the panel of officers hearing the case and weighing the evidence, has converted from being essentially a board of inquiry/review presiding over the trial, into a jury of military service-members.
In 2013, at the Department of Defense's Judicial Proceedings Panel, Cortney Lollar testified that the UCMJ needed to be updated to improve the sections regarding sexual assault. [16]
The current version of the UCMJ is printed in the latest edition of the Manual for Courts-Martial (2019), incorporating changes made by the President (executive orders) and National Defense Authorization Acts of 2006 and 2007.
Courts-martial are conducted under the UCMJ and the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM). If the trial results in a conviction, the case is reviewed by the convening authority – the commanding officer who referred the case for trial by court-martial. [17] [18] The power of the convening authority was reduced in 2014. [19] [20]
If the sentence, as approved by the convening authority, includes death, a bad conduct discharge, a dishonorable discharge, dismissal of an officer, or confinement for one year or more, the case is reviewed by an intermediate court. [17] There are four such courts – the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals.
After review by any of these intermediate courts, the next level of appeal is the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF). [17] [21] The Supreme Court of the United States has discretion under 28 U.S.C. § 1259 to review cases under the UCMJ on direct appeal where the CAAF has conducted a mandatory review (death penalty and certified cases), granted discretionary review of a petition, or otherwise granted relief. [22] If the CAAF denies a petition for review or a writ appeal, consideration by the Supreme Court may be obtained only through collateral review (e.g., a writ of habeas corpus). [23] Since 2007, several bills have been introduced into Congress to expand the accessibility of service members to the Supreme Court. See also Equal Justice for United States Military Personnel legislation.
Within the exceptions below, as codified in Article 2 of the UCMJ, personal jurisdiction attaches, regardless of the physical global location of the service member, over all members of the Uniformed Services of the United States: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. [24] [25]
While the Coast Guard is administered under Title 14 of the United States Code when not operating as part of the U.S. Navy, individuals commissioned or enlisted in the Coast Guard are subject to the UCMJ as an armed force. [24] Commissioned members of the NOAA and PHS, as uniformed services, are only subject to the UCMJ when attached or detailed to a military unit by competent orders, or when militarized by Presidential executive order during a national emergency or declaration of war. [24]
Members of the military Reserve Components under Title 10 of the United States Code (Army Reserve, Marine Forces Reserve, Navy Reserve, and Air Force Reserve), or Title 14 of the United States Code, Coast Guard Reserve when not operating as part of the U.S. Navy, are subject to the UCMJ when they are:
Soldiers and airmen in the National Guard of the United States are subject to the UCMJ only if activated (mobilized or recalled to active duty) in a federal capacity under Title 10 by an executive order issued by the President, or during their annual training periods, which are orders issued under Title 10, during which periods of duty they are federalized into the National Guard of the United States. Otherwise, members of the National Guard are usually exempt from the UCMJ. However, under Title 32 orders, or State Active Duty orders issued directly under State authority, individual members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard are still subject to their respective state codes of military justice, which often resemble the UCMJ very closely, and/or their state civil and criminal laws.
Several States also authorize either naval or military organized militia forces. These are collectively known as the State Guard. [27] State Guard organizations are organized, trained, equipped, armed, disciplined, and administered under each State's own sovereign authority, and are not subject to a Federal recall to active duty, nor are the individual members subject to the UCMJ in their capacities as members of the State Guard. State Guard organizations typically are organized similarly to a military force, and usually report to the senior National Guard officer in each State, known as the Adjutant General.
In this sense, the State Guard are auxiliaries to each State's Constitutionally authorized organized militia forces, the Army and Air National Guard. The State Guard is often specialized, based on each state's requirements, for missions such as wilderness search and rescue, light aviation, forest firefighting, law enforcement, or general emergency management roles. Under each state's own authorities, State Guard members may be ordered to State Active Duty (SAD), in a status similar to National Guard members in a Title 32 status but solely under state authority and discipline, and also may be provided with the training, equipment, and authority to act as law enforcement officers with powers of arrest.
Each state sets the requirements to join, remain, be promoted or rewarded, and conditions of employment such as a minimum amount of duty performed in a year, and whether any duty is paid or unpaid, and whether the individuals are covered by various civil service or retirement pension plans. Most State Guard duty is performed without pay, in a volunteer status. While the State Guard organizations are subject to recall to SAD, or other workforce requirements as imposed by their state, they are not subject to either partial or full mobilization authorities under Title 10.
However, the individual State Guard members often have dual-status as both State Guard and a federally recognized uniformed services member, such as a Texas State Guard officer who is also a retired U.S. military officer. Such an individual could be recalled to active duty under both SAD as a State Guard member, or under one of the various authorities to recall retired or reserve military members to active duty (10 USC 688, various 10 USC 123XX authorities, and others), but not both because a federal status trumps a state status. State Guard members could thus be subject to the UCMJ at all times under their federal status, and under specific state military and civil/criminal codes under their state status.
Cadets and midshipmen at the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and United States Coast Guard Academy, are subject to the UCMJ at all times because they are in an active duty status as members of the regular component while serving at a Military Service Academy, per Article 2(a)(2) of UCMJ. [28] Army and Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are not subject to the UCMJ, except while on inactive or active duty training. [29] Midshipmen of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and Navy ROTC (including marine-option) midshipmen are also subject to the UCMJ when on inactive or active duty for training orders. [30]
Members of military auxiliaries such as the Civil Air Patrol and the Coast Guard Auxiliary are not subject to the UCMJ, even when participating in missions assigned by the military or other branches of government. However, members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary can be called by the Commandant of the Coast Guard into the Temporary Reserve of the Coast Guard, in which case they become subject to the UCMJ.
Additionally, the following categories of service members are subject to the UCMJ as indicated: [31]
Civilians are not subject to UCMJ. However, the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over crimes committed on a military installation. [32] A military investigation may be conducted to determine whether or not to prosecute a civilian who commits a crime on a military base. Civilians are not otherwise subject to military law, even when the crime is committed against a service member. When a civilian bus driver murdered an Army private off post in 1942, for example, the post commander was unable to investigate. [33]
Historically, the UCMJ applied to "persons serving with or accompanying an armed force in the field" and thus included military contractors "in time of war." [34] In the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, which was enacted in 2006, Congress expanded the UCMJ's applicability to cover contractors during a "declared war or contingency operation." [34] The change came following the Nisour Square massacre perpetrated by Blackwater Security personnel. [35]
In 2008, the first contractor was prosecuted under the new provision, marking the first time since 1968 that a contractor had been charged under military law. [35] [36] The civilian defendant, a dual Canadian-Iraqi citizen, was charged with stabbing a co-worker, another Iraqi civilian. [35] [36] The contractor ultimately pleaded guilty. [36]
Under Article 15 of the Code (Subchapter III), specified military commanders have the authority to exercise non-judicial punishment (NJP) over their subordinates for minor breaches of discipline. [37] These punishments are carried out after a hearing before the commander but without a judge and jury. Punishments are limited to a reduction in rank for enlisted members, loss of pay, restriction of privileges, extra-duty, reprimands, and, aboard ships, confinement. Guidelines for the imposition of NJP are contained in Part V of the Manual for Courts-Martial and the various service regulations. [38]
The UCMJ provides that any service member may bring a "complaint of wrongs" against their commanding officer to the next senior officer exercising general court-martial authority over their commander. [39] That officer will investigate the complaint of wrongs, and then report the findings of the investigation to the service Secretary (i.e., Secretary of the Army, Navy, Air Force) concerned. [40] Following said findings an investigation board can be convened to investigate and adjudicate claims of willful damage, destruction, or theft of personal property, only if both parties are subject to the Code. [41]
The UCMJ is found in Title 10, Subtitle A, Part II, Chapter 47 of the United States Code.
Subchapter | Title | Section | Articles |
---|---|---|---|
I | General Provisions | § 801 | 1–6 |
II | Apprehension and Restraint | § 807 | 7–14 |
III | Non-Judicial Punishment | § 815 | 15 |
IV | Court-Martial Jurisdiction | § 816 | 16–21 |
V | Composition of Courts-Martial | § 822 | 22–29 |
VI | Pre-Trial Procedure | § 830 | 30–35 |
VII | Trial Procedure | § 836 | 36–54 |
VIII | Sentences | § 855 | 55–58 |
IX | Post-Trial Procedure and Review of Courts-Martial | § 859 | 59–76 |
X | Punitive Articles | § 877 | 77–134 |
XI | Miscellaneous Provisions | § 935 | 135–140 |
XII | Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces | § 941 | 141–146 |
Subchapter I, "General Provisions" has six sections (articles):
Section | Article | Title |
---|---|---|
§ 801 | 1 | Definitions |
§ 802 | 2 | Persons subject to this chapter |
§ 803 | 3 | Jurisdiction to try certain personnel |
§ 804 | 4 | Dismissed officer's right to trial by court-martial |
§ 805 | 5 | Territorial applicability of this chapter |
§ 806 | 6 | Judge advocates and legal officers |
§ 806a | 6a | Investigation and disposition of matters pertaining to the fitness of military judges |
Article 1 (Definitions), defines the following terms used in the rest of the UCMJ: Judge Advocate General, the Navy, officer in charge, superior commissioned officer, cadet, midshipman, military, accuser, military judge, law specialist, legal officer, judge advocate, record, classified information, and national security. This article also provides that, "The Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard when it is operating as a service in the Navy, shall be considered as one armed force" for the purposes of the UCMJ. [42]
Section | Article | Title |
---|---|---|
§ 830 | 30 | Charges and specifications |
§ 831 | 31 | Compulsory self-incrimination prohibited |
§ 832 | 32 | Investigation |
§ 833 | 33 | Forwarding of charges |
§ 834 | 34 | Advice of staff judge advocate and reference for trial |
§ 835 | 35 | Service of charges |
Under Article 31, coercive self-incrimination is prohibited as a right under the Fifth Amendment. Apprehending officers utilize the Article 31 warning and waiver to prevent this self-incrimination, much like the Miranda warning. Article 31 was already well-established before Miranda.
Article 32 refers to the pre-trial investigation and hearing conducted before charges are referred to trial for court-martial. It may be conducted by a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer or non-JAG officer.
Subchapter X, "Punitive Articles", is the subchapter that details offenses under the uniform code. The 2019 MCM incorporates both major and minor changes to certain articles, and relocates many articles; careful examination of the source document is required to ensure full understanding, and previous "cheat sheets" and training materials may therefore be outdated. Those articles with a title annotated by "*" were changed from the 2016 MCM:
Section | Article | Title |
---|---|---|
§ 877 | 77 | Principals |
§ 878 | 78 | *Accessory after the fact |
§ 879 | 79 | *Conviction of offense charged, lesser included offense, and attempts |
§ 880 | 80 | *Attempts |
§ 881 | 81 | Conspiracy |
§ 882 | 82 | *Soliciting commission of offenses |
§ 883 | 83 | *Malingering |
§ 884 | 84 | *Breach of medical quarantine |
§ 885 | 85 | Desertion |
§ 886 | 86 | Absence without leave |
§ 887 | 87 | *Missing movement; jumping from vessel |
§ 887a | 87a | *Resistance, flight, breach of arrest, and escape |
§ 887b | 87b | *Offenses against correctional custody and restriction |
§ 888 | 88 | Contempt toward officials |
§ 889 | 89 | *Disrespect toward superior commissioned officer; assault of superior commissioned officer |
§ 890 | 90 | *Willfully disobeying superior commissioned officer |
§ 891 | 91 | Insubordinate conduct toward warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, or petty officer |
§ 892 | 92 | Failure to obey order or regulation |
§ 893 | 93 | *Cruelty and maltreatment |
§ 893a | 93a | *Prohibited activities with military recruit or trainee by person in position of special trust |
§ 894 | 94 | Mutiny or sedition |
§ 895 | 95 | *Offenses by sentinel or lookout |
§ 895a | 95a | *Disrespect toward sentinel or lookout |
§ 896 | 96 | *Release of prisoner without proper authority; drinking with prisoner |
§ 897 | 97 | Unlawful detention |
§ 898 | 98 | *Misconduct as prisoner |
§ 899 | 99 | Misbehavior before the enemy |
§ 900 | 100 | Subordinate compelling surrender |
§ 901 | 101 | Improper use of countersign |
§ 902 | 102 | Forcing a safeguard |
§ 903 | 103 | *Spies |
§ 903a | 103a | *Espionage |
§ 903b | 103b | *Aiding the enemy |
§ 904 | 104 | *Public records offenses |
§ 904a | 104a | *Fraudulent enlistment, appointment, or separation |
§ 904b | 104b | *Unlawful enlistment, appointment, or separation |
§ 905 | 105 | *Forgery |
§ 905a | 105a | *False or unauthorized pass offenses |
§ 906 | 106 | *Impersonation of officer, noncommissioned or petty officer, or agent or official |
§ 906a | 106a | *Wearing unauthorized insignia, decoration, badge, ribbon, device, or lapel button |
§ 907 | 107 | *False official statements; false swearing |
§ 907a | 107a | *Parole violation |
§ 908 | 108 | *Military property of the United States—Loss, damage, destruction, or wrongful disposition |
§ 908a | 108a | *Captured or abandoned property |
§ 909 | 109 | *Property other than military property of United States–Waste, spoilage, or destruction |
§ 909a | 109a | *Mail matter: wrongful taking, opening, etc |
§ 910 | 110 | *Improper hazarding of vessel or aircraft |
§ 911 | 111 | *Leaving scene of vehicle accident |
§ 912 | 112 | *Drunkenness and other incapacitation offenses |
§ 912a | 112a | Wrongful use, possession, etc., of controlled substances |
§ 913 | 113 | *Drunken or reckless operation of a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel |
§ 914 | 114 | *Endangerment offenses |
§ 915 | 115 | *Communicating threats |
§ 916 | 116 | Riot or breach of peace |
§ 917 | 117 | Provoking speeches or gestures |
§ 918 | 118 | *Murder |
§ 919 | 119 | *Manslaughter |
§ 919a | 119a | *Death or injury of an unborn child |
§ 919b | 119b | *Child endangerment |
§ 920 | 120 | *Rape and sexual assault generally |
§ 920a | 120a | *Mails: deposit of obscene matter |
§ 920b | 120b | *Rape and sexual assault of a child |
§ 920c | 120c | *Other sexual misconduct |
§ 921 | 121 | *Larceny and wrongful appropriation |
§ 921a | 121a | *Fraudulent use of credit cards, debit cards, and other access devices |
§ 921b | 121b | *False pretenses to obtain services |
§ 922 | 122 | *Robbery |
§ 922a | 122a | *Receiving stolen property |
§ 923 | 123 | *Offenses concerning Government computers |
§ 923a | 123a | *Making, drawing, or uttering check, draft, or order without sufficient funds |
§ 924 | 124 | *Frauds against the United States |
§ 924a | 124a | *Bribery |
§ 924b | 124b | *Graft |
§ 925 | 125 | *Kidnapping |
§ 926 | 126 | *Arson; burning property with intent to defraud |
§ 927 | 127 | Extortion |
§ 928 | 128 | *Assault |
§ 928a | 128a | *Maiming |
§ 929 | 129 | *Burglary; unlawful entry |
§ 930 | 130 | *Stalking |
§ 931 | 131 | Perjury |
§ 931a | 131a | *Subornation of perjury |
§ 931b | 131b | *Obstructing justice |
§ 931c | 131c | *Misprision of serious offense |
§ 931d | 131d | *Wrongful refusal to testify |
§ 931e | 131e | *Prevention of authorized seizure of property |
§ 931e | 131f | *Noncompliance with procedural rules |
§ 931e | 131g | *Wrongful interference with adverse administrative proceeding |
§ 932 | 132 | *Retaliation |
§ 933 | 133 | *Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman |
§ 934 | 134 | *General article |
The general article (Article 134) authorizes the prosecution of offenses not specifically detailed by any other article: "...all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses not capital, of which persons subject to this chapter may be guilty." [43]
Clause 1 of the article involves disorders and neglect, "...to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces." Clause 2 involves, "...conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces." Clause 3 deals with non-capital offenses violating other federal law; under this clause, any such offense created by federal statute may be prosecuted under Article 134. United States v. Perkins, 47 C.M.R. 259 (Air Force Ct. of Military Review 1973). [44]
The most recent version of the Manual for Courts-Martial lists the following offenses commonly prosecuted under Article 134: [45] [46]
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)In the United States Armed Forces, Non-judicial punishment (NJP) is a disciplinary measure that may be applied to individual military personnel, without a need for a court martial or similar proceedings.
The secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) is a statutory officer and the head of the Department of the Navy, a military department within the United States Department of Defense.
The United States has eight federal uniformed services that commission officers as defined by Title 10 and subsequently structured and organized by Titles 10, 14, 32, 33, and 42 of the U.S. Code.
Military justice is the body of laws and procedures governing members of the armed forces. Many nation-states have separate and distinct bodies of law that govern the conduct of members of their armed forces. Some states use special judicial and other arrangements to enforce those laws, while others use civilian judicial systems. Legal issues unique to military justice include the preservation of good order and discipline, the legality of orders, and appropriate conduct for members of the military. Some states enable their military justice systems to deal with civil offenses committed by their armed forces in some circumstances.
The United States service academies, also known as United States military academies, are federal academies for the undergraduate education and training of commissioned officers for the United States Armed Forces.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces is an Article I court that exercises worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the United States Armed Forces on active duty and other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The court is composed of five civilian judges appointed for 15-year terms by the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. The court reviews decisions from the intermediate appellate courts of the services: the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, the Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.
The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a category of the Ready Reserve of the Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States composed of former active duty or reserve military personnel. Its governing statute is codified at 10 U.S.C. § 10144. For soldiers in the National Guard of the United States, its counterpart is the Inactive National Guard (ING). As of 22 June 2004, the IRR had approximately 112,000 members composed of enlisted personnel and officers, with more than 200 Military Occupational Specialties are represented, including combat arms, combat support, and combat service support.
An Article 32 hearing is a proceeding under the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice, similar to that of a preliminary hearing in civilian law. Its name is derived from UCMJ section VII Article 32, which mandates the hearing.
Courts-martial of the United States are trials conducted by the U.S. military or by state militaries. Most commonly, courts-martial are convened to try members of the U.S. military for violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). They can also be convened for other purposes, including military tribunals and the enforcement of martial law in an occupied territory. Federal courts-martial are governed by the rules of procedure and evidence laid out in the Manual for Courts-Martial, which contains the Rules for Courts-Martial (RCM), Military Rules of Evidence, and other guidance. State courts-martial are governed according to the laws of the state concerned. The American Bar Association has issued a Model State Code of Military Justice, which has influenced the relevant laws and procedures in some states.
Pay grades are used by the eight structurally organized uniformed services of the United States, as well as the Maritime Service, to determine wages and benefits based on the corresponding military rank of a member of the services. While different ranks may be used among the eight uniformed services, pay grades are uniform and equivalent between the services and can be used to quickly determine seniority among a group of members from different services. They are also essential when determining a member's entitlements such as basic pay and allowances.
The Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) is the intermediate appellate court for criminal convictions in the United States Navy and the Marine Corps.
In the United States military, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals (ACCA) is an appellate court that reviews certain court martial convictions of Army personnel.
Provosts are military police (MP) whose duties are policing solely within the armed forces of a country, as opposed to gendarmerie duties in the civilian population. However, many countries use their gendarmerie for provost duties.
The Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals (CGCCA) is the intermediate appellate court for criminal convictions in the U.S. Coast Guard. It is located in Washington, DC.
The Puerto Rico State Guard is the state defense force of Puerto Rico that operates under the sole authority of the governor of Puerto Rico who, in turn, delegates such authority to the Puerto Rico Adjutant General. The Guard's secondary purpose is to assume the state mission of the Puerto Rico National Guard in the event that the National Guard is mobilized. The first incarnation of the PRSG was created in 1941 in response to World War II and it disbanded in 1946. The PRSG was revived in 1971 and has remained in continuous existence since then. It is one of the few state defense forces of the United States that has an air division.
The Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals (AFCCA) is an independent appellate judicial body authorized by Congress and established by the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force pursuant to the exclusive authority under 10 U.S.C. § 866(a). The Court hears and decides appeals of United States Air Force court-martial convictions and appeals pendente lite. Its appellate judges are assigned to the Court by The Judge Advocate General. The Judge Advocate General instructs court-martial convening authorities to take action in accordance with the Court's decisions.
In United States military law, a convening authority is an individual with certain legal powers granted under either the Uniform Code of Military Justice or the Military Commissions Act of 2009.
The reserve components of the United States Armed Forces are military organizations whose members generally perform a minimum of 39 days of military duty per year and who augment the active duty military when necessary. The reserve components are also referred to collectively as the National Guard and Reserve.
The Judge Advocate General's Corps is the military justice branch or specialty of the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called judge advocates.
Unlawful command influence (UCI) is a legal concept within American military law. UCI occurs when a person bearing "the mantle of command authority" uses or appears to use that authority to influence the outcome of military judicial proceedings. Military commanders typically exert significant control over their units, but under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) a commander must take a detached, quasi-judicial stance towards certain disciplinary proceedings such as a court-martial. Outside of certain formal actions authorized by the UCMJ, a commander using their authority to influence the outcome of a court-martial commits UCI. If UCI has occurred, the results of a court-martial may be legally challenged and in some cases overturned.