How is a court-martial case initiated?

A court-martial case in Virginia is initiated by a charge sheet, also known as a specification sheet. This sheet lists the alleged offenses for which a service member is facing charges. This sheet is then submitted to a commanding officer who reviews the charges and decides if a court-martial is necessary and appropriate to resolve the issue. If so, the commanding officer then forwards the charge sheet to a convening authority, who will issue an order formally forming and convening a court-martial. This order determines the composition and strength of the court-martial panel (jury) and the lawyers who will represent the service member. The court-martial panel is made up of commissioned officers and is tasked with hearing evidence, determining guilt/innocence, and deciding upon a sentence – if any – for the accused. Once the court-martial panel is formed, the case is then sent to a trial before a military judge, who is responsible for ruling on the evidence and ensuring that the proceedings are conducted legally and justly. Once the case is concluded, the findings and sentences of the court-martial are passed onto the convening authority for final review and adjudication. This is only the beginning of the process for court-martials in Virginia, a process that provides essential protections for those serving in the military.

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