Case Name: UNITED STATES, Appellee v. JOSEPH W. FIFE, Private First Class, U. S. Marine Corps, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Military Appeals
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1970-12-18
Citations: 20 C.M.A. 218
Docket Number: No. 23,426
Parties: UNITED STATES, Appellee v JOSEPH W. FIFE, Private First Class, U. S. Marine Corps, Appellant
Judges: Judge Ferguson concurs.
Reporter: Decisions of the United States Court of Military Appeals
Volume: 20
Pages: 218–218

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES, Appellee v JOSEPH W. FIFE, Private First Class, U. S. Marine Corps, Appellant
20 USCMA 218, 43 CMR 58
No. 23,426
December 18, 1970
Captain R. O. Kellam, JAGC, USN, Accused. , was on the pleadings for Appellant,
Commander Michael F. Fasanaro, ings for Appellee, United States. Jr., JAGC, USN, was on the plead-

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court
Darden, Judge:
Tried before a military judge alone, the accused was convicted of absence without leave and given a bad-conduct discharge, total forfeitures, ten months' confinement at hard labor, and reduction in grade. He did not submit, in writing, his request to be tried by a military judge until after findings. For the reasons set forth in United States v Dean, 20 USCMA 212, 43 CMR 52 (1970), his failure so to do constitutes jurisdictional error that makes the findings a nullity. Accordingly, the decision of the United States Navy Court of Military Review is reversed. The findings of guilty and sentence are set aside. The record of trial is returned to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy. Another trial may be ordered.
Judge Ferguson concurs.