How is a court-martial case initiated?

A court-martial case is initiated by the superior officer or leader of a member of the military, who is also known as a convening authority. The convening authority is responsible for appointing a prosecution, deciding what type of court-martial will be used, appointing a defense lawyer if needed, and appointing a panel of officers for the court. A court-martial can be initiated in many different ways in Washington. For instance, a court-martial may begin if the commander of a unit decides that there is enough evidence of a possible misconduct to warrant a court-martial investigation. In this case, the commander would initiate a preliminary inquiry to investigate the allegations and determine whether or not they should be presented to a court-martial. If the preliminary inquiry yields enough evidence, then the commander will initiate a charge and refer the case to a court-martial. At this point, the court-martial will be convened, and the justice proceedings will begin. After hearing the evidence, the court will then make a verdict, which can range from an acquittal to a conviction, depending on the evidence. In Washington, the Uniform Code of Military Justice governs all court-martial cases and ensures that members of the military are treated fairly and equally under the law.

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How is a court-martial case initiated?

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