What are the different types of court-martials?

Court-martials are military tribunals, or legal proceedings, used by military branches to address violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). In Virginia, there are three types of courts-martial — summary, special and general. A summary court-martial is the least serious type of court-martial. It is presided over by one commissioned officer, and is used to address offenses committed by enlisted personnel. The punishments that can be imposed are limited in scope. A special court-martial is more serious than a summary court-martial, and is appropriate for non-capital cases. It is composed of a panel of three to five commissioned officers, and the punishments that can be imposed are more severe. Lastly, a general court-martial is the most serious type of court-martial. It is composed of a panel of five or more commissioned officers, and is used to address offenses for which the death penalty is a potential punishment. All three types of court-martials afford the accused certain rights, such as the right to consult with a defense counsel and the right to confront and cross-examine any witnesses. Furthermore, the accused has the right to appeal any decisions rendered by a court-martial.

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What are the different types of court-martials?

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