Navy - Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals The Navy - Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals ( NMCCA ) is the intermediate appellate court for criminal convictions in the United States Navy and the Marine Corps . Courts - martial are conducted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice ( Title 10 of the United States Code § § 801 - 946 ) , and the Manual for Courts - Martial . If the trial results in a conviction , the case is reviewed by the convening authority ( the person who referred the case for trial by court - martial ) . The convening authority has discretion to mitigate the findings and sentence . Review court . If the sentence , as approved by the convening authority , includes death , a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge , dismissal of an officer , or confinement for one year or more , the case is reviewed by an intermediate court . For the Navy and Marine Corps , this is the Navy - Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals . Description . The Navy - Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals ( NMCCA ) is located in Washington , D . C . in the Navy Yard . The court conducts mandatory review ( unless waived by the appellant ) of all courts - martial of members of the naval service referred to the court pursuant to Articles 62 , 66 , 69 , and 73 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice . When necessary in furtherance of its jurisdiction , the Court reviews all petitions for extraordinary relief properly filed before it ( 28 U . S . C . § 1651 ) . The United States military justice system commonly uses four writs : mandamus , prohibition , error coram nobis , and habeas corpus . A writ of mandamus is an order from a court of competent jurisdiction that requires the performance of a specified act by an inferior court or authority . The writ of prohibition is used to prevent the commission of a specified act or issuance of a particular order . The writ of error , " coram nobis " , is used to bring an issue before the court that previously decided the same issue . It allows the court to review error of fact or a retroactive change in the law that which affects the validity of the prior proceeding . The writ of habeas corpus is used to challenge either the legal basis for or the manner of confinement . The court has the statutory authority to determine whether the findings of guilty and the sentence are correct in law and fact for all courts - martial reviewed under Article 66 , UCMJ ( about 96 % of the Court ' s work ) , and to take corrective action if prejudicial error has occurred . Such action includes setting aside or modifying the findings and / or the sentence , ordering a rehearing , and dismissing charges and specifications . Unless reversed by a higher court , such action is binding on all parties , including all officials of the United States . The court ' s published opinions are binding precedent for the conduct of courts - martial in the naval service . The Courts of Criminal Appeals review cases for legal error , factual sufficiency , and sentence appropriateness . All other cases are subject to review by judge advocates under regulations issued by each service . After such review , the Judge Advocate General may refer a case to the appropriate Court of Criminal Appeals . The Courts of Criminal Appeals also have jurisdiction under Article 62 of the UCMJ to consider appeals by the United States of certain judicial rulings during trial . Review under Article 62 is limited to issues involving alleged legal errors . Bluebook citation form for this Court is provided in Table T . 1 ( N - M . Ct . Crim . App . ) , " The Bluebook : A Uniform System of Citation " ( Columbia law Review Ass ' n et al . eds , 18th ed . 2005 ) . The official reporters are West ' s Military Justice Reporter ( M . J . ) ( 1975 - date ) and Court Martial reports ( C . M . R . ) ( 1951 – 1975 ) The next level of appeal from the NMCCA is the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ( CAAF ) .