Courts-Martial in Georgia
Hinesville Military Law Attorneys Are Former JAG Members
Are you a military member facing a court-martial in the United States? Courts-martial are criminal trials which are held by the United States military. Typically, they are convened for the purpose of trying members of the military for violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)—the criminal code of the U.S. military. Courts-martial can also be convened for military tribunals and enforcement of martial law. Trials of this kind are governed by the procedures discussed in the Manual for Courts-Martial. Our team understands how to defend military service members because our lead attorneys were members of the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.
Types of Courts-Martial
Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, there are three types of courts-martial. The three types are summary, special, and general court-martial. Descriptions of each kind are included below:
Summary Court-Martial
Summary court-martial is held by one commissioned officer. The purpose
of a summary court-martial is to try the enlisted personnel for noncapital
offenses. In a summary court-martial, any punishment can be imposed that
is not forbidden by law.
Various punishments include:
- Confinement for 1 month or less
- Hard labor without confinement for 45 days or less
- Restriction for 2 months or less
- Forfeiture of 2/3 of pay per month for 1 month or less
- Reduction to the lowest enlisted pay
Special Court-Martial
Special court-martial includes no less than three members and a military
judge. Upon the request of the accused, he or she may be tried alone by
a military judge. This type of court-martial is often viewed as a civilian
misdemeanor court action.
Punishments that can be imposed in a special court-martial include:
- Reduction to pay grade E-1
- Bad conduct discharge
- Forfeiture of 2/3 of pay for a year
- Deprivation of benefits of service
General Court-Martial
In a general court-martial, no less than five members and a military judge
will be present. In some cases, the accused can be tried alone by the
military judge upon request. General courts-martial are classified as
a civilian felony court because more serious offenses of the UCMJ are
judged. In a general court-martial, any punishment that is not prohibited
by the UCMJ can be issued. When specifically authorized, death may even
be the deserved punishment.
Obtain Legal Representation from Balbo & Gregg, Attorneys at Law, PC
In any type of court-martial, you can face life-changing impacts as a service member. You should schedule a free case evaluation to understand how we can help with your case. The accused military member often has the right to a detailed active-duty military lawyer, an active-duty military lawyer, or a civilian military lawyer. Upon request, trial by members can be obtained. Contact Balbo & Gregg, Attorneys at Law, PC at (866) 580-3089 today to find out more about how our experienced Hinesville military lawyers can help!
