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

In Pennsylvania, military law consists of two different types of court-martials: summary court-martial and general court-martial. Generally, summary court-martial are used to handle minor offenses, while general court-martial are used for more serious offenses. A summary court-martial is a relatively quick process, designed to handle minor military offenses. Only one commissioned officer is needed to preside over the court and to determine guilt or innocence. This type of court-martial is reserved for offenses that generally result in a punishment of no more than 30 days of confinement or a dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge. A general court-martial is the more serious of the two court-martial types. It is designed to try offenses that are punishable by more than a year-long confinement. It is presided over by a minimum of three officers and is the only court that can impose a such a serious punishment as a dishonorable discharge, especially for a felony-level offense. Both types of court-martial require that the accused be informed of the nature of the charges, allowed representation by a lawyer and to present evidence in his or her defense. In conclusion, the main difference between a summary court-martial and a general court-martial in Pennsylvania is that the former is used for minor offenses and only requires one officer to preside, while the latter is used for more serious offenses and requires a minimum of three officers to preside.

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