Military Justice Improvement Act of 2014

To reform procedures for determinations to proceed to trial by court-martial for certain offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2014 2. Modification of authority to determine to proceed to trial by court-martial on charges on certain offenses with authorized maximum sentence of confinement of more than one year (a) Modification of authority (1) In general (A) Military departments With respect to charges under chapter 47 (B) Homeland security With respect to charges under chapter 47 (2) Covered offenses An offense specified in this paragraph is an offense as follows: (A) An offense under chapter 47 (B) A conspiracy to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 881 of title 10, United States Code (article 81 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice). (C) A solicitation to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) as punishable under section 882 of title 10, United States Code (article 82 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice). (D) An attempt to commit an offense specified in subparagraphs (A) through (C) as punishable under section 880 (3) Excluded offenses Paragraph (1) does not apply to an offense as follows: (A) An offense under sections 883 through 917 of title 10, United States Code (articles 83 through 117 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice). (B) An offense under section 933 934 (C) A conspiracy to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) as punishable under section 881 of title 10, United States Code (article 81 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice). (D) A solicitation to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) as punishable under section 882 (E) An attempt to commit an offense specified in subparagraph (A) through (D) as punishable under section 880 (4) Requirements and limitations The disposition of charges pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be subject to the following: (A) The determination whether to try such charges by court-martial shall be made by a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces designated in accordance with regulations prescribed for purposes of this subsection from among commissioned officers of the Armed Forces in grade O–6 or higher who— (i) are available for detail as trial counsel under section 827 (ii) have significant experience in trials by general or special court-martial; and (iii) are outside the chain of command of the member subject to such charges. (B) Upon a determination under subparagraph (A) to try such charges by court-martial, the officer making that determination shall determine whether to try such charges by a general court-martial convened under section 822 section 823 (C) A determination under subparagraph (A) to try charges by court-martial shall include a determination to try all known offenses, including lesser included offenses. (D) The determination to try such charges by court-martial under subparagraph (A), and by type of court-martial under subparagraph (B), shall be binding on any applicable convening authority for a trial by court-martial on such charges. (E) The actions of an officer described in subparagraph (A) in determining under that subparagraph whether or not to try charges by court-martial shall be free of unlawful or unauthorized influence or coercion. (F) The determination under subparagraph (A) not to proceed to trial of such charges by general or special court-martial shall not operate to terminate or otherwise alter the authority of commanding officers to refer such charges for trial by summary court-martial convened under section 824 section 815 (5) Construction with charges on other offenses Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to alter or affect the disposition of charges under chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice), that allege an offense triable by court-martial under that chapter for which the maximum punishment authorized under that chapter includes confinement for one year or less. (6) Policies and procedures (A) In general The Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of Homeland Security (with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy) shall revise policies and procedures as necessary to comply with this subsection. (B) Uniformity The General Counsel of the Department of Defense and the General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security shall jointly review the policies and procedures revised under this paragraph in order to ensure that any lack of uniformity in policies and procedures, as so revised, among the military departments and the Department of Homeland Security does not render unconstitutional any policy or procedure, as so revised. (7) Manual for Courts-Martial The Secretary of Defense shall recommend such changes to the Manual for Courts-Martial as are necessary to ensure compliance with this subsection. (b) Effective date and applicability Subsection (a), and the revisions required by that subsection, shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to charges preferred under section 830 3. Modification of officers authorized to convene general and special courts-martial (a) In general Subsection (a) of section 822 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following new paragraph (8): (8) the officers in the offices established pursuant to section 3(c) of the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2014 or officers in the grade of O–6 or higher who are assigned such responsibility by the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, or the Commandant of the Coast Guard, but only with respect to offenses to which section 2(a)(1) of the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2014 applies; . (b) No exercise by officers in chain of command of accused or victim Such section (article) is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) An officer specified in subsection (a)(8) may not convene a court-martial under this section if the officer is in the chain of command of the accused or the victim. . (c) Offices of Chiefs of Staff on courts-Martial (1) Offices required Each Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces or Commandant specified in paragraph (8) of section 822(a) (A) To convene general and special courts-martial under sections 822 823 section 822(a) (B) To detail under section 825 (2) Personnel The personnel of each office established under paragraph (1) shall consist of such members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense, or such members of the Coast Guard or civilian personnel of the Department of Homeland Security, as may be detailed or assigned to the office by the Chief of Staff or Commandant concerned. The members and personnel so detailed or assigned, as the case may be, shall be detailed or assigned from personnel billets in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act. 4. Discharge using otherwise authorized personnel and resources (a) In general The Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of Homeland Security (with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy) shall carry out sections 2 and 3 (and the amendments made by section 3) using personnel, funds, and resources otherwise authorized by law. (b) No authorization of additional personnel or resources Sections 2 and 3 (and the amendments made by section 3) shall not be construed as authorizations for personnel, personnel billets, or funds for the discharge of the requirements in such sections. 5. Monitoring and assessment of modification of authorities on courts-martial by independent panel on review and assessment of proceedings under the Uniform Code of Military Justice Section 576(d)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 ( Public Law 112–239 (1) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (K); and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following new subparagraph (J): (J) Monitor and assess the implementation and efficacy of sections 2 through 4 of the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2014, and the amendments made by such sections. . December 3, 2014 Read the second time and placed on the calendar

Summary: Military Justice Improvement Act of 2014 - Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to direct the Secretaries of Defense (DOD) and Homeland Security (DHS) to require the Secretaries of the military departments to modify the process for determining whether to try by court-martial a member accused of: (1) certain UCMJ offenses for which the maximum punishment includes confinement for more than one year; or (2) a conspiracy, solicitation, or attempt to commit such offenses. Requires courts-martial determinations for such offenses to be made by a commissioned officer available for detail as trial counsel who is outside the chain of command of the member subject to the charges. (Currently, courts-martial decisions are made by commanding officers of accused members.) Excludes from the revised procedures that require counsel outside the chain of command to make such courts-martial determinations certain UCMJ offenses relating specifically to military service, including absence without leave, insubordination, and aiding the enemy. Prohibits an outside counsel's determination not to proceed to trial by general or special court-martial from altering the authority of commanding officers to: (1) refer noncapital offenses to summary courts-martial with limits on the punishments that may be imposed; or (2) impose non-judicial admonitions, reprimands, or disciplinary punishment for minor offenses. Requires military chiefs of staff to establish offices to convene general and special courts-martial. Prohibits officers in the chain of command of an accused or a victim from detailing members to serve on a resulting trial by court-martial.