General Court-Martial in US Military (2024) – All You Need to Know

Military service members can face unique challenges when they encounter legal issues or criminal charges. This is due to the fact that military courts have completely separate processes and regulations from those in civilian life. In the most serious of these cases, a crucial first step to demystifying the military justice process is understanding the nuances of the general court-martial process, including recent updates to the rules.

At The Law Center P.C., we recognize the gravity of these situations and are available to guide you through the complexities of military law, ensuring that your rights and your career are protected. We achieve this by providing each client with highly responsive legal counsel and strategies tailored to the unique circumstances of your case.

Understanding the General Court-Martial

A general court-martial is the highest level of military court, reserved for conducting trials for the most serious offenses. In civilian terms, a general court-martial is similar to a trial for a serious felony (whereas a special or summary court-martial is convened for more misdemeanor-like offenses).

A general court-martial may be convened to address many different types of charges for serious criminal misconduct, including but not limited to:

• Desertion – Abandoning your post or unit will get you fired in civilian life. In the military, it is a serious crime that can carry an equally serious sentence.
• Espionage – The US Government, for obvious reasons, is very serious about ensuring service members are not double agents acting on behalf of hostile organizations or America’s competitors on the global stage.
• Serious Acts Prejudicial to Good Order and Discipline – “Acts Prejudicial to Good Order and Discipline” is a term that appears within the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and, due to its lack of specificity, helps establish the US government’s broad authority to bring serious criminal charges against anyone who compromises or undermines operations.
  This can range from disorderly conduct-like charges to much more serious situations that would be brought under a general court-martial.
• Heinous Violent Crimes – Other extremely serious crimes that are not specific to a military context may also be brought under a general court-martial, depending on the specific circumstances.

The rules and legal frameworks for the general court-martial process are vast and complex and likely to be overwhelming to anyone without specialized legal training. These rules are contained within a document called the United States Manual for Courts-Martial, commonly referred to in military and legal circles as simply the MCM. The MCM is subject to regular revisions and amendments, and its text plays a major role in shaping the overall landscape of military justice in the United States.

Recent Changes to Military Law and Courts Martial (2024)

Some significant recent amendments to the United States Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM) have been ordered and implemented, with the most recent update (in the form of a new preface) being dated September 15, 2024. This current edition is actually a somewhat unusual version of the MCM, as it is a digital-only edition, and the only included supplemental material is the updated preface. A full publication of the 2024 version does appear to be in the works, however.

More significant changes, outlined in a July 2024 Executive Order by President Biden, include adjustments to parts II, III, IV, and V of the MCM. These amendments are quite extensive, covering over 175 pages in their standard PDF form online. A few of them include:

• Mental competency considerations – Notably, the convening authority of a general court-martial can remand the accused to the custody of the Attorney General under certain circumstances.
• Excludable delays – In an effort to ensure fair and timely proceedings for anyone involved in a court-martial, a 120-day window takes effect when the convening authority of the general court-martial takes custody.
• New sentencing considerations – The age of the accused and the impact of the offense on national security.
• Privileges related to information shared between a service member and clergy.
• Updates to testimony rules in cases involving domestic violence and child abuse.
• The admissibility of “ancient documents” is defined as documents with verified authenticity with a date prior to January 1, 1998.
• Updates to certified records and data rules pertaining to digital systems and electronic devices.
• Rules about the admissibility of previous convictions as evidence.
• Various procedural updates that your attorney can explain in detail.

If you have a current case, it is important to understand that while these changes took effect immediately, they do not have any retroactive impact on acts committed prior to the date of the order (July 28, 2024). The amendments in the Executive Order are largely designed to enhance, clarify, and better regulate court-martial procedures rather than making any major changes to the way courts-martial operate.

Furthermore, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was signed into law on December 22 of the previous year also introduced some key modifications to military law, including those that may have an impact on court-martial proceedings. Notable changes here include:

• Randomized Selection of Court-Martial Members
• Anonymity of Convening Authority
• Judicial Review of Court-Martial Convictions

Those facing court-martial in 2024 should be aware that, unlike the aforementioned Executive Order, some of these rule changes pursuant to the NDAA do not take effect until two years after the NDAA’s enactment and will only apply to courts-martial convened on or after that date.

Courts-martial can be quite different from civilian courts, and effectively navigating these differences can be a vital part of getting through a general court-martial. Anyone involved in military justice proceedings at the serious level of a general court-martial is likely to have many questions about the process to come.

FAQs About General Court-Martial in US Military

What Is a General Court-Martial?

A general court-martial is the highest-level military court, convened only for the most serious offenses. It resembles, in some aspects, a civilian criminal trial for a felony offense but is overseen by the US Manual for Courts-Martial rather than a civilian legal code. A general court-martial can address serious military-specific charges such as desertion and espionage or severe criminal acts that would be serious offenses in the civilian world.

How Serious Is a Court-Martial?

While lesser courts-martial (called summary or special courts-martial) can often result in fairly modest penalties, the seriousness of a general court-martial cannot be overstated. A general court-martial is a grave matter that indicates allegations of serious misconduct against a service member, which can have profound, long-term implications on that service member’s career, reputation, and personal life.

What Is the Maximum Punishment for a General Court-Martial?

Because of the extreme nature of some offenses brought to general court-martial cases, the maximum punishment for a general court-martial is actually the death penalty. More commonly, punishments for general court-martials include dishonorable discharge from service, confinement (i.e., imprisonment), and forfeiture of pay and benefits.

Can You Stay in the Military After a Court-Martial?

Just like every civilian trial is unique, so is every court-martial. Whether or not you have the option to continue your military service after a court-martial will depend on the outcome of your case, which, in turn, depends on the specific charges brought against you, the severity of the alleged offenses, and other circumstances. If the sentence handed down for your court-martial case includes discharge from service, then no, you will not be able to stay in the military afterward.

The Law Center P.C.: Confidential Legal Help for Those Facing Court-Martial

Frequent updates to the MCM and recent changes to the court-martial process underscore the dynamic nature of military law–and the need for powerful legal representation. At The Law Center P.C., our team is well-versed in military and civilian law alike and can provide highly responsive, highly effective legal support to those navigating the complex waters of military law and the general court-martial process. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.