How does the appeals process for a court-martial work?

In California, the process for appealing a court-martial judgement is similar to that of civilian law. After your court-martial, you have the right to appeal the decision to higher ranking officers. First, you must file either a “record of trial” or a “petition for reconsideration” to the Convening Authority. The Convening Authority is the officer that ordered the court-martial. The Convening Authority can either reconsider the case or forward it to a higher court. If the Convening Authority forwards the case to a higher court, it goes to the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) for review. The SJA can either approve the decision or refer the case back to military court. If the SJA approves the decision, you can move on to the higher court. The higher court is the Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) and includes three military judges. They will review the case and make a decision. The CCA’s decision is final and can only be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The appeals process for a court-martial can be complicated and involved. It is important to understand your rights and seek counsel if you are considering appealing a court-martial judgement. An experienced attorney can help guide you through the process and make sure your rights are protected.

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How does the appeals process for a court-martial work?

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