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

In Pennsylvania, military law is governed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. military law includes the actions and proceedings of general and special court-martials. It is important to understand the differences between these two types of court-martials. A general court-martial is the highest form of court-martial, and is typically used to try those accused of the most serious offenses. These courts are usually presided over by a military judge, and the accused may be tried by a panel of military officers. The maximum punishment that a general court-martial may impose is dishonorable discharge, total forfeiture of pay, and confinement of up to one year. A special court-martial is a lesser form of court-martial and is generally used to try those accused of lesser offenses. These courts are usually presided over by a military judge and the accused may be tried by a panel of officers or by the military judge alone. The maximum punishment that a special court-martial may impose is a bad conduct discharge, forfeiture of pay, and confinement of up to six months. In Pennsylvania, the accused may also be tried by a Summary Court-Martial. This is the most informal type of court-martial and is typically used to try those accused of minor offenses. The maximum punishment a Summary Court-Martial may impose is usually limited to forfeiture of pay and confinement of up to 30 days. In conclusion, the differences between a general court-martial and a special court-martial include who presides over the court, what type of panel is used to try the accused, and the maximum punishment that may be imposed. While the general court-martial is the highest form of court-martial and imposes the most severe punishments, a special court-martial is the lesser of the two and is generally used for lesser offenses.

Related FAQs

How does the Sixth Amendment apply to court-martial proceedings?
What is the role of a military prosecutor?
What are the potential punishments that can be imposed in a court-martial?
What is the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 120?
What type of offenses can be tried by a special court-martial?
What is the UCMJ Article 138?
What is an Article 32 hearing?
How is a court-martial different from a criminal trial?
What is the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 99?
What is the purpose of a military investigative hearing?

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

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts