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

In Virginia, military law is governed by the laws of the United States. Military law covers both criminal and civil cases and is used to adjudicate violations of military and federal laws. There are two different types of court-martials used in the military justice system; a summary court-martial and a special court-martial. A summary court-martial is used to quickly handle minor offenses. A summary court-martial is presided over by a single commissioned officer and may only impose limited punishments such as reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay, or confinement of up to 30 days. In contrast, a special court-martial is a more serious type of court-martial and is composed of at least three commissioned officers. A special court-martial is used to prosecute more serious offenses and can impose punishments such as a Bad Conduct Discharge, forfeiture of pay, and up to one year confinement. Overall, the main difference between a summary court-martial and a special court-martial is the seriousness of the offense committed and the potential punishments that may be imposed. Summary court-martials are typically used to quickly resolve minor offenses, while special court-martials are used to prosecute more serious offenses and can impose more significant punishments.

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

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