What are the qualifications to serve on a court-martial panel?

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, to be qualified to serve on a court-martial panel, you must have the following: 1) Must be a commissioned officer in the military, or another branch of the armed forces. 2) Must have experience in the court-martial process. This experience can include having served as a counsel, member, witness, or court-martial judge advocate in any court-martial. 3) Must meet age requirements, which vary by branch of the service. Generally, officers must be at least twenty-one years old, while enlisted members must be at least eighteen years old. 4) Must be of good moral character, free of any convictions involving dishonesty or other serious offenses. 5) Must be physically and mentally fit. 6) Must not have any relationships which would impair their impartiality or independence. The court-martial panel is composed of at least three officers who have jurisdiction over the case. Depending on the severity of the offense, the panel can consist of up to twelve members. All members must agree with the verdict. No individual member may serve twice in the same trial. In addition, each branch of the armed forces may have additional qualifications for serving on a court-martial panel.

Related FAQs

How is a court-martial case initiated?
What is the UCMJ Article 134?
What is the role of a Navy JAG lawyer?
What is an Article 107 offense?
What is a counter-motion in a court-martial?
What is the role of an Army JAG lawyer?
What is the Military Rules of Evidence (MRE) 603?
How does the chain of command factor into a court-martial?
What is a motion for mistrial in a court-martial?
What is the difference between a general court-martial and a special court-martial?

What are the qualifications to serve on a court-martial panel?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts