How is a court-martial different from a criminal trial?

A court-martial is a specialized type of military trial designed to handle cases specific to members of the armed forces. It is different from a criminal trial in a few ways. Firstly, a court-martial is presided over by a military judge and a panel of jury members, usually made up of officers who are part of the armed forces. This is in contrast to a criminal trial which is presided over by a civilian judge and a civilian jury. Secondly, in a court-martial, the accused is entitled to a military lawyer, whereas at a civilian criminal trial, a public defender or private attorney is used. Living in Virginia, a military lawyer is usually stationed at Fort Belvoir, Fort Myer, or Norfolk Naval Base to provide legal counsel to members of the armed forces. Finally, the types of punishment typically handed down by a court-martial can vary in severity from that of a civilian criminal trial. Punishments can include dishonorable discharge from the military, restriction from leave, reductions in rank, and sometimes even public humiliation. Overall, a court-martial is a specialized type of military trial with differences in the presiding judge and jury, the lawyers used, as well as the punishments that can be handed down.

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