The concept of a court martial may seem mystifying to some, but it doesn’t have to be. Every military service member should understand the core components of the court martial process. In that spirit, let’s take a look at two essential elements of military court: preferral and referral of charges.
Forming the Military Court
When a military service member is suspected of misconduct or criminal activity, the commanding officer will appoint a command investigator or ask a criminal investigative body, such as NCIS, OSI, or Army CID, to cede jurisdiction over the investigation into the allegations. In the military legal system, a commanding officer becomes the “convening authority” when he or she signs an order to convene the military court. The court itself won’t take action until the convening authority refers a specific case, at which point the court process can move forward.
Indicting a Defendant with a Preferral
Once the investigation is complete, the convening authority may direct a formal preferral of charges to the court. Like an indictment in civilian criminal courts, the preferral of charges formally charges the defendant with criminal allegations. If you ever find yourself in this situation, make sure you exercise your all-important right to call an attorney.
Upon preferral, the accused will immediately gain the right to military counsel. The command must also inform the accused about the charges preferred against him or her, as well as the names of certain people involved in the preferral.
The convening authority can take one of several actions after the preferral of charges:
- Handle the allegations by administrative means and take no disciplinary action
- Order non-judicial punishment for the offense; however, this is far more commonly offered prior to the preferral of charges
- Call for an Article 32 pretrial investigation in order to refer the allegations to a general court martial
- Convene a summary or special court martial
Creating the Court with a Referral
When the convening authority refers the charges, the military court process officially begins. If the case leads to a special or general court martial, an independent military judge will be appointed to preside over the case. The judge will take control unless the convening authority decides to dismiss the charges. The convening authority also maintains the right to offer you a plea bargain, or a negotiated agreement, to dispose of the case at any time. Your attorney can give you more specific advice about whether you should accept a plea bargain.
Your right to an attorney is critical to the outcome of your case, your military career, and your future. Take the opportunity to contact a highly skilled and experienced military lawyer, like the ones at Military Justice Attorneys. We can provide you with strategic and effective legal services from the preferral stage onward.
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