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.

Related FAQs

Are confessions admissible as evidence in a court-martial?
What is a pretrial agreement in a court-martial?
What is a motion for mistrial in a court-martial?
How is an accused in a court-martial protected from self-incrimination?
What is an Article 134 offense?
How does military law differ from civilian law?
What is the role of a Navy JAG lawyer?
What is the UCMJ Article 39?
What is the maximum punishment for an Article 134 offense?
What is the difference between a court martial and a summary court-martial?

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

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts