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

In North Carolina, a military court-martial is the military justice system for dealing with members of the armed forces accused of breaching the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). There are two types of court-martials: summary court-martial and general court-martial. A summary court-martial is the lowest level of military court-martial and is generally used to deal with minor offenses. The proceedings are dealt with by a single commissioned officer, and any sentence imposed is subject to review by a higher authority. There is no right of appeal and the most serious sentence available is reduction in rank and forfeiture of pay for up to one month. A general court-martial is a more serious and formal court-martial with a wider range of powers. It is presided over by a minimum of five commissioned officers and it can impose a more serious sentence including jail time. The accused has the right to appeal the sentence. The accused can also be represented by a lawyer and witnesses can be called to provide evidence. In short, a summary court-martial is used to deal with minor offenses and is presided over by one commissioned officer with limited powers while a general court-martial is used for more serious offenses and is presided over by at least five commissioned officers with more extensive powers. Both types of court-martial adhere to the rules of the UCMJ and set forth due process within military justice.

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

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