What is the difference between a summary court-martial and a special court-martial?

In California, military law provides for two types of court-martials: summary court-martial and special court-martial. A summary court-martial consists of one commissioned officer acting as a prosecutor, judge and jury. The officer presides without a jury, and has the unilateral authority to reach a guilty or not guilty verdict as well as hand down punishments, which can include forfeiture of pay, confinement, hard labor, reduction in rank and a federal conviction. A special court-martial is more complex and consists of a minimum of three officers, with one of those officers acting as a prosecutor. Witnesses may be presented, and either side is allowed to appeal the case to a higher court. Punishments for a special court-martial can include all of the punishments allowed in a summary court-martial and may include reprimands, fines, a prison sentence of up to 12 months, and dishonorable discharge. The major difference between a summary court-martial and special court-martial is that summary court-martials are shorter, less formal and have less severe punishments, while special court-martials are more formal and provide for harsher punishments. In summary, summary court-martials are designed to be more expeditious and provide the commander with more flexible tools to address military offenses, while special court-martials are designed to provide the accused with greater protections, a full trial and more severe punishments when found guilty.

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What is the difference between a summary court-martial and a special court-martial?

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