Source: https://www.court-martial.com/what-to-expect-with-your-court-martial.html
Timestamp: 2020-08-11 06:20:13
Document Index: 22715043

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art. 42', 'Art. 27', 'Art. 42', 'Art. 27', 'Art. 42', 'Art. 38', 'Art. 27']

What to Expect With Your Court-Martial | USA Military Justice Lawyer
All trials, whether ultimately to be heard before the members or by judge alone, begin with an UCMJ Article 39(a) session. Sometimes the military judge and the lawyers will meet "off-the-record," in what's called an R.C.M. 802 session.
Each session of court is called to order by the military judge. R.C.M. 803, 901.
Announcement of the convening of the court and referral of charges. This is normally done by the trial counsel, who refers to the convening order, any modifications thereto, and indicates the date of service of charges upon the accused.
Announcement of persons present at the article 39(a) session. The persons involved include trial counsel, your defense counsel, the military judge, members, and of course you. Court cannot proceed without you being present unless you are voluntarily absent. If the orders detailing the military judge and counsel have not been reduced to writing, an oral announcement of such detailing is required. The convening order will detail the members.
Swearing of the reporter, if not previously sworn. Art. 42(a), UCMJ. This doesn't happen often.
Affirmation by trial counsel of the qualifications (Art. 27(b), UCMJ certified) and status as to oaths (Art. 42(a), UCMJ) of all members of the prosecution.
Statement by defense counsel of qualifications (Art. 27(b), UCMJ) and status as to oaths (Art. 42(a), UCMJ) and introduction of individual military counsel and / or civilian counsel.
A personal inquiry by the military judge of the accused to determine whether the accused understands his rights to counsel as set forth in Art. 38(b), UCMJ, and R.C.M. 901(d)(4).
Swearing of military judge and detailed counsel, if not sworn previously. Individual military counsel who is not certified in accordance with Art. 27(b), UCMJ, and / or civilian counsel, must be sworn in each case.
Statement by the trial counsel of the general nature of the charges.
Disclosure of grounds for challenge of the military judge and challenge of the military judge for cause, if any. There will be voir dire of the military judge at some point.
Inquiry by the military judge of the accused to determine that the accused understands his right to request trial by military judge alone.
If the accused is enlisted, a determination by the military judge that the accused understands his right to request that at least one-third of the membership of the court be enlisted persons.
Arraignment procedure includes the reading of the charges by trial counsel, unless waived by the accused, and stating the information from page 2 of the charge sheet as to preferral, referral, and service of the charges on the accused.
If service is within three days of the trial by special court-martial, or within five days of the trial by general court-martial, an accused may object to proceeding with the trial until these statutory periods have run.
Arraignment is complete when the accused is called upon to plead by the military judge.
Prior to receiving the pleas of the accused, he is given the opportunity to present post-arraignment motions, either to seek dismissal of any charge and specification or for other appropriate relief.
If the accused pleads guilty to any offense, including any lesser included offense (LIO), the judge conducts an inquiry into the voluntariness of the accused's plea. Whether or not the judge enters findings at this stage depends on whether the government will be presenting evidence on the merits (as where the accused has plead guilty to an LIO and the government intends to prove the greater offense alleged).
The military judge may also resolve other evidentiary and procedural matters at the article 39(a) session to expedite the subsequent trial on the merits.
Advice as to waiver of constitutional rights
Advice as to meaning and effect of guilty plea
Swearing of Accused
Listing and discussion of elements of offenses
Discussion and admission of any Stipulations of Fact
Part I, pretrial agreement
Finding as to PTA
See below for Sentencing
Convening The Court With Members
Once the members are seated, certain preliminaries are repeated (calling of the court to order, announcement of convening of the court, and persons present, etc.).
Swearing of the members of the court
Announcement of the assembly of the court. R.C.M. 911
Introductory remarks and preliminary instructions by the military judge concerning the duties of the court members
Voir dire and challenges of court members by counsel. R.C.M. 912
Announcement by the military judge of the prior arraignment and pleas of the accused
Opening statements by counsel. R.C.M. 913(b)
Presentation of evidence by counsel. R.C.M. 913(c)
Motion for Finding of Not Guilty at close of prosecution and defense case
Final argument of counsel. R.C.M. 919
Instructions on findings by the military judge. R.C.M. 920
Closing the court for deliberations and voting by the members on the issue of the guilt or innocence of the accused. R.C.M. 921
Announcement, in open court, of the findings of the court members. R.C.M. 922
Griffith motion to set-aside one or more findings
Matters presented by the prosecution. R.C.M. 1001(a)(1)(A)
Service data concerning the accused from the first page of the charge sheet
Personal data relating to the accused and of the character of the accused's prior service as reflected in the personal records of the accused
Evidence of previous convictions. iv. Matters in aggravation
Evidence of rehabilitative potential
Advice by the military judge concerning the accused's rights to make a sworn or unsworn statement in mitigation and extenuation or to remain silent. R.C.M. 1001(a)(3)
Presentation of matters in extenuation and mitigation by the defense. R.C.M. 1001(c)
Arguments of counsel on sentence. R.C.M. 1001(g)
Instructions on sentence and voting procedure by the military judge. R.C.M. 1005
Closing the court for the members to deliberate and vote on sentence. R.C.M. 1006
Announcement in open court of the sentence. R.C.M. 1007
Discussion of your appellate rights
Family and Client Briefing-031