How are witnesses examined in a court-martial?

In California, witnesses are examined in a court-martial according to military law. The court-martial process is governed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Generally, the court-martial panel (consisting of a minimum of three officers) is responsible for determining the truth in the proceedings, and the panel members have the authority to question the witness directly. The witness is first sworn in prior to questioning and must answer all questions honestly and accurately. Case law provides guidance on how the judicial proceedings should be conducted. Witnesses can be questioned directly by either the prosecution or the defense. All witnesses must state their name, rank, and/or position before they testify. Witnesses are prohibited from speaking during the testimony of another witness and must remain in contact with the court-martial proceedings for the duration of the case. Witnesses are afforded the right to object to any question they deem to be improper. The court-martial panel will then decide if the objection is valid or improper based on the legal rules of evidence. Any witness may be called upon for cross-examination, which is typically done by the opposing counsel. Once all the testimony from the witnesses has been completed, the court-martial panel will consider all the evidence and testimony and render a judgment of guilt or innocence. The court-martial proceedings can take several days or weeks to complete. During the proceedings, witnesses are expected to remain at the court and abide by the military regulations.

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How are witnesses examined in a court-martial?

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