"Military justice (or military law) is the body of laws and procedures governing members of the armed forces."
Courts that hear cases related to national security and military matters, often established in times of war or emergency.
Structure of the military justice system: This topic covers the organization and structure of the military justice system, including the roles and responsibilities of various military justice actors, such as prosecutors, defense counsel, and judges.
Types of military tribunals: This topic includes the different types of military tribunals that exist, such as summary courts-martial, special courts-martial, and general courts-martial. It also covers the procedural differences between each type of tribunal.
Jurisdiction: This topic covers the jurisdiction of military tribunals and the circumstances under which servicemembers can be tried by military courts.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): This topic covers the UCMJ, which is the legal code that governs the conduct of members of the United States military. It includes offenses punishable under the UCMJ, such as insubordination, desertion, and mutiny.
Evidence: This topic covers the rules of evidence that apply in military tribunals, including the admissibility of hearsay, character evidence, and eyewitness testimony.
Sentencing: This topic covers the sentencing guidelines that apply in military tribunals, including sentencing options such as confinement, discharge, and fines.
Appeals: This topic covers the appellate process in military tribunals, including the procedures for appealing a conviction or sentence and the rights of accused servicemembers to counsel during the appellate process.
International law and military tribunals: This topic covers the relationship between international law and military tribunals, including the jurisdiction of international tribunals over war crimes and the admissibility of international law in military tribunals.
Military commissions: This topic covers military commissions, which are tribunals established by the U.S. government to try individuals suspected of terrorism or other offenses related to national security.
Military justice reform: This topic covers ongoing efforts to reform the military justice system, including proposals to increase transparency and fairness in military tribunals.
General Court-Martial: It's the highest level of military court and deals with the most severe offenses. It involves a military judge, at least five members, and a defense attorney. Sentencing is similar to that of a civilian court.
Special Court-Martial: It's a mid-level military court that deals with less serious crimes. It involves a military judge or a panel of three members.
Summary Court-Martial: It's a lower-level military court that deals with minor offenses, such as disobeying orders or minor property damage. It involves only one officer, who acts as the judge, and the accused has no right to a defense lawyer.
Field Court-Martial: It's a military court that can be set up in a combat zone to provide swift justice. The accused is judged by the commanding officer in the field, and a formal hearing is not required.
Military Commission: It's a military court created to try non-military personnel, enemy combatants, or prisoners of war. It's a political, rather than a legal, process.
Special Military Tribunal: It's a court created to try individuals accused of crimes related to national security or rebellion against the state.
War Crimes Tribunal: It's a court created by international agreement to try individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide.
Military Board of Inquiry: It's a fact-finding body that investigates and reports on specific incidents such as an airplane crash or a ship collision. It has no legal authority to punish offenders.
"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."
"Military justice is distinct from martial law, which is the imposition of military authority on a civilian population as a substitute for civil authority."
"Martial law is often declared in times of emergency, war, or civil unrest."
"Most countries restrict when and in what manner martial law may be declared and enforced."
"The preservation of good order and discipline, the legality of orders, and appropriate conduct for members of the military."
"The preservation of good order and discipline."
"The legality of orders."
"Appropriate conduct for members of the military."
"Some states use special judicial and other arrangements to enforce those laws, while others use civilian judicial systems."
"Some states enable their military justice systems to deal with civil offenses committed by their armed forces in some circumstances."
"Some states enable their military justice systems to deal with civil offenses committed by their armed forces in some circumstances."
"The imposition of military authority on a civilian population as a substitute for civil authority."
"Martial law is often declared in times of emergency, war, or civil unrest."
"Most countries restrict when and in what manner martial law may be declared and enforced."
"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."