Case ID: cma_21/html/0519-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Duncan, Judge:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES, Appellee v GERALD E. GROTE, Staff Sergeant, U. S. Marine Corps, Appellant
    21 USCMA 519, 45 CMR 293
    No. 24,969
    July 7, 1972
    
    
      
      Commander Maitland G. Freed, JAGC, USN, was on the pleadings for Appellant, Accused.
    
      Commander Michael F. Fasanaro, Jr., JAGC, USN, was on the pleadings for Appellee, United States.
    
      
       Also decided and reversed this date on the principle of law set forth herein is United States v Thompson, No. 25,086.
    
   Opinion of the Court

Duncan, Judge:

In the ease before us, the request for trial by military judge alone (Article 16, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 816).did not contain the name of the military judge when it was submitted by the accused. The request was submitted in blank.

In United States v Brown, 21 USCMA 516, 45 CMR 290 (1972), we held this omission to be a jurisdictional defect (United States v Dean, 20 USCMA 212, 43 CMR 52 (1970); United States v Rountree, 21 USCMA 62, 44 CMR 116 (1971)), and the proceedings null and void. McClaughry v Deming, 186 US 49, 46 L Ed 1049, 22 S Ct 786 (1902). We so hold in this case.

The decision of the Court of Military Review is reversed. The record of trial is returned to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy. Another trial may be ordered.

Chief Judge Darden concurs.

Judge Quinn dissents.