Military justice

Military justice is a legal framework where military law is applied to members of the armed forces. It is designed to maintain discipline, efficiency, and morale within the military ranks. The system of military justice is separate from the civilian justice system, and it includes its own courts, procedures, and legal professionals.

Overview

Military justice is a system of laws and procedures governing members of the armed forces. Many nations have separate and distinct bodies of law that govern the conduct of members of their military. Some states use special judicial and other arrangements to enforce those laws, while others use civilian judicial systems. Legal issues unique to military justice include the preservation of good order and discipline, the conduct of warfare, and the maintenance of military security.

Military Courts

Military courts are courts established by the military for the trial of members of the armed forces who have been accused of breaking military law. These courts are separate from civilian courts and have their own procedures and rules. They are presided over by military judges, who are officers trained in law and appointed to serve in the military judiciary.

Military Crimes

Military crimes are offenses that are made illegal by military law. These can include traditional crimes like murder and theft, but also include offenses unique to the military, such as desertion, insubordination, and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Military Punishments

Military punishments can range from fines and reduction in rank, to imprisonment or even death. The severity of the punishment is usually proportionate to the seriousness of the offense. Some military justice systems also include non-judicial punishments, which are disciplinary measures that can be imposed by a commanding officer without a court-martial.

Military Appeals

In most military justice systems, a service member who has been convicted by a court-martial has the right to appeal the conviction and/or the sentence. The military appeals process is similar to the appeals process in civilian courts, but it is handled by a separate military appellate court.

See Also

• Court-martial
• Uniform Code of Military Justice
• Military law
• War crime