2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 20 - EXECUTIVE BRANCH › 20 ILCS 1807/ - Illinois Code of Military Justice. › Part VII - Trial Procedure

(20 ILCS 1807/Pt. VII heading)
PART VII.  TRIAL PROCEDURE
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/36)
Sec. 36. Article 36. Trial procedure. The Adjutant General may adopt rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act which establish  pretrial, trial, and post-trial procedures, including modes of proof, for courts-martial cases arising under this Code and for courts of inquiry, and which shall apply the principles of law and the rules of evidence generally recognized in military criminal cases in the courts of the Armed Forces of the United States but which may not be contrary to or inconsistent with this Code. The Governor or the Adjutant General may prescribe courts of inquiry by regulations, or as otherwise provided by law, which shall apply the principles of law and the rules of evidence generally recognized in military cases.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/37)
Sec. 37. Article 37. Unlawfully influencing action of court.
(a)   No authority convening a general, special, or summary court-martial, nor any other commanding  officer,  or  officer  serving  on  the  staff  thereof,  may  censure,  reprimand,  or admonish the court or any member, the military judge, or counsel thereof, with respect to the findings or sentence adjudged by the court or with respect to any other exercise of its or their functions in the conduct of the proceedings.   No person subject to this Code may attempt to coerce or, by any unauthorized means, influence the action of a court-martial or court of inquiry or any member thereof, in reaching the findings or sentence in any case, or the action of any convening, approving, or reviewing authority with respect to their judicial acts.  The foregoing provisions of this subsection shall not apply with respect to (1) general instructional or informational courses in military justice if such courses are designed solely for the purpose of instructing members of a command in the substantive and procedural aspects of courts-martial or (2) statements and instructions given in open court by the military judge, summary court-martial officer, or counsel.
(b)    In the preparation of an effectiveness, fitness, or efficiency report, or any other report or document used in whole or in part for the purpose of determining whether a member of the State military forces is qualified to be advanced in grade, or in determining the assignment or transfer of a member of the State military forces, or in determining whether a member of the State military forces should be retained on active status, no person subject to this Code may, in preparing any such report, (1) consider or evaluate the performance of duty of any such member as a member of a court-martial or witness therein or (2) give a less favorable rating or evaluation of any counsel of the accused because of zealous representation before a court-martial.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/38)
Sec. 38. Article 38. Duties of trial counsel and defense counsel.
(a)    The trial counsel of a general or special court-martial shall be a member in good standing of the State bar and shall prosecute in the name of the State of Illinois, and shall, under the direction of the court, prepare the record of the proceedings.
(b)(1)    The accused has the right to be represented in defense before a general or special court-martial or at an investigation under Article 32 of this Code as provided in this subsection.
(2) The accused may be represented by civilian counsel at the provision and expense of the accused.
(3) The accused may be represented:
(A) by military counsel detailed under Article 27 of     this Code; or
(B)   by military counsel of the accused's own     selection if that counsel is reasonably available as determined under paragraph (7).
(4)    If  the  accused  is  represented  by  civilian  counsel,  military  counsel  detailed  or selected under paragraph (3) shall act as associate counsel unless excused at the request of the accused.
(5)    Except as provided under paragraph (6), if the accused is represented by military counsel of his own selection under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3), any military counsel detailed under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) shall be excused.
(6)   The accused is not entitled to be represented by more than one military counsel. However, the person authorized under regulations prescribed under Article 27 of this Code to detail counsel, in that person's sole discretion:
(A) may detail additional military counsel as     assistant defense counsel; and
(B)   if the accused is represented by military     counsel of the accused's own selection under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3), may approve a request from the accused that military counsel detailed under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) act as associate defense counsel.
(7)    The  senior  State  Judge  Advocate  of  the same  state  of  which  the  accused  is  a member shall determine whether the military counsel selected by an accused is reasonably available.
(c) In any court-martial proceeding resulting in a conviction, the defense counsel:
(1)    may forward for attachment to the record of     proceedings a brief of such matters as counsel determines should be considered in behalf of the accused on review, including any objection to the contents of the record which counsel considers appropriate;
(2) may assist the accused in the submission of any     matter under Article 60 of this Code; and
(3) may take other action authorized by this Code.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/39)
Sec. 39. Article 39. Sessions.
(a)    At any time after the service of charges which have been referred for trial to a court-martial composed of a military judge and members, the military judge may, subject to Article 35 of this Code, call the court into session without the presence of the members for the purpose of:
(1)    hearing and determining motions raising     defenses or objections which are capable of determination without trial of the issues raised by a plea of not guilty;
(2)    hearing and ruling upon any matter which may     be ruled upon by the military judge under this Code, whether or not the matter is appropriate for later consideration or decision by the members of the court;
(3) holding the arraignment and receiving the pleas     of the accused; and
(4)    performing any other procedural function which     does not require the presence of the members of the court under this Code.  These proceedings shall be conducted in the presence of the accused, the defense counsel, and the trial counsel and shall be made a part of the record. These proceedings may be conducted notwithstanding the number of court members and without regard to Article 29.
(b)    When the members of a court-martial deliberate or vote, only the members may be present. All other proceedings, including any other consultation of the members of the court with counsel or the military judge, shall be made a part of the record and shall be in the presence of the accused, the defense counsel, the trial counsel, and the military judge.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/40)
Sec. 40. Article 40. Continuances. The military judge of a court-martial may, for reasonable cause, grant a continuance to any party for such time, and as often, as may appear to be just.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/41)
Sec. 41. Article 41. Challenges.
(a)(1) The  military  judge and  members  of  a  general or  special  court-martial  may  be
challenged by the accused or the trial counsel for cause stated to the court.  The military judge or the court shall determine the relevancy and validity of challenges for cause and may not receive a challenge to more than one person at a time.  Challenges by the trial counsel shall ordinarily be presented and decided before those by the accused are offered.
(2)    If exercise of a challenge for cause reduces the court below the minimum number of members required by Article 16 of this Code, all parties shall, notwithstanding Article 29 of this Code, either exercise or waive any challenge for cause then apparent against the remaining members of the court before additional members are detailed to the court.  However, peremptory challenges shall not be exercised at that time.
(b)(1)   Each accused and the trial counsel are entitled initially to one peremptory challenge of members of the court.  The military judge may not be challenged except for cause.
(2)    If exercise of a peremptory challenge reduces the court below the minimum number of members required by Article 16 of this Code, the parties shall, notwithstanding Article 29 of this Code, either exercise or waive any remaining peremptory challenge, not previously waived, against the remaining members of the court before additional members are detailed to the court.
(3)    Whenever additional members are detailed to the court, and after any challenges for cause against such additional members are presented and decided, each accused and the trial counsel are entitled to one peremptory challenge against members not previously subject to peremptory challenge.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/42)
Sec. 42. Article 42. Oaths or affirmations.
(a)    Before  performing  their  respective  duties,  military  judges,  general  and  special  courts-martial members, trial counsel, defense counsel, reporters, and interpreters shall take an oath or affirmation in the presence of the accused to perform their duties faithfully.  The form of the oath or affirmation, the time and place of the taking thereof, the manner of recording the same, and whether the oath or affirmation shall be taken for all cases in which these duties are to be performed or for a particular case, shall be as prescribed in regulation or as provided by law. These regulations may provide that an oath or affirmation to perform faithfully the duties as a military judge, trial counsel, or defense counsel may be taken at any time by any judge advocate or other person certified or designated to be qualified or competent for the duty, and if such an oath or affirmation is taken, it need not again be taken at the time the judge advocate or other person is detailed to that duty.
(b) Each witness before a court-martial shall be examined under oath or affirmation.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/43)
Sec. 43. Article 43. Statute of limitations.
(a)    Except as otherwise provided in this Article, a person charged with any offense is not liable to  be  tried  by  court-martial  or  punished  under  Article  15  of  this Code  if  the  offense  was committed more than 3 years before the receipt of sworn charges and specifications by an officer exercising court-martial jurisdiction over the command or before the imposition of punishment under Article 15 of this Code.
(b)   Periods in which the accused is absent without authority or fleeing from justice shall be excluded in computing the period of limitation prescribed in this Article.
(c)    Periods in which the accused was absent from territory in which this State has the authority to apprehend him, or in the custody of civil authorities, or in the hands of the enemy, shall be excluded in computing the period of limitation prescribed in this Article.
(d) When the United States is at war or armed conflict authorized by law, the running of any statute of limitations applicable to any offense under this Code:
(1)    involving fraud or attempted fraud against the     United States, any state, or any agency of either in any manner, whether by conspiracy or not;
(2)    committed in connection with the acquisition,     care, handling, custody, control, or disposition of any real or personal property of the United States or any state; or
(3)   committed in connection with the negotiation,     procurement, award, performance, payment, interim financing, cancellation, or other termination or settlement, of any contract, subcontract, or purchase order which is connected with or related to the prosecution of the war, or with any disposition of termination inventory by any war contractor or Government agency;

is suspended until 2 years after the termination of hostilities or armed conflict as proclaimed by the
President or by a joint resolution of Congress.
(e)(1) If charges or specifications are dismissed as defective or insufficient for any cause and the period prescribed by the applicable statute of limitations:
(A) has expired; or
(B) will expire within 180 days after the date of     dismissal of the charges and specifications;

trial and punishment under new charges and specifications are not barred by the statute of limitations if the conditions specified in paragraph (2) are met.
(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that the new charges and specifications must:
(A) be received by an officer exercising special     court-martial jurisdiction over the command within 180 days after the dismissal of the charges or specifications; and
(B) allege the same acts or omissions that were     alleged in the dismissed charges or specifications (or allege acts or omissions that were included in the dismissed charges or specifications).
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/44)
Sec. 44. Article 44. Former jeopardy.
(a)    No person may, without his consent, be tried a second time for the same offense.
(b)    No proceeding in which an accused has been found guilty by a court-martial upon any charge or specification is a trial in the sense of this Article until the finding of guilty has become final after review of the case has been fully completed.
(c)    A proceeding which, after the introduction of evidence but before a finding, is dismissed or terminated by the convening authority or on motion of the prosecution for failure of available evidence or witnesses without any fault of the accused is a trial in the sense of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/45)
Sec. 45. Article 45. Pleas of the accused.
(a)    If an accused after arraignment makes an irregular pleading, or after a plea of guilty sets up matter inconsistent with the plea, or if it appears that the accused has entered the plea of guilty improvidently or through lack of understanding of its meaning and effect, or if the accused fails or refuses to plead, a plea of not guilty shall be entered in the record, and the court shall proceed as though the accused had pleaded not guilty.
(b)    With respect to any charge or specification to which a plea of guilty has been made by the accused and accepted by the military judge or by a court-martial without a military judge, a finding of guilty of the charge or specification may be entered immediately without vote.  This finding shall constitute the finding of the court unless the plea of guilty is withdrawn prior to announcement of the sentence, in which event, the proceedings shall continue as though the accused had pleaded not guilty.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/46)
Sec. 46. Article 46. Opportunity to obtain witnesses and other evidence. The trial counsel, the defense counsel, and the court-martial shall have equal opportunity to obtain witnesses and other evidence as prescribed by regulations and provided by law.  Process issued in court-martial cases to compel witnesses to appear and testify and to compel the production of other evidence shall apply the principles of law and the rules of courts-martial generally recognized in military criminal cases in the courts of the armed forces of the United States, but which may not be contrary to or inconsistent with this Code.  Process shall run to any part of the United States, or the Territories, Commonwealths, and possessions, and may be executed by civil officers as prescribed by the laws of the place where the witness or evidence is located or of the United States.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/47)
Sec. 47. Article 47. Refusal to appear or testify.
(a) Any person not subject to this Code who:
(1)    has been duly subpoenaed to appear as a     witness or to produce books and records before  a  court-martial  or  court  of  inquiry,  or  before  any  military  or  civil  officer designated to take a deposition to be read in evidence before such a court;
(2)    has been duly paid or tendered the fees and     mileage of a witness at the rates allowed to witnesses attending a criminal court of this State; and
(3)    willfully neglects or refuses to appear, or     refuses to qualify as a witness or to testify or to produce any evidence which that person may have been legally subpoenaed to produce;  may be punished by the military court in the same manner as a criminal court of this State.
(b)    The fees and mileage of witnesses shall be advanced or paid out of the appropriations for the compensation of witnesses.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/48)
Sec. 48. Article 48. Contempts. A military judge may punish for contempt any person who refuses a court order, is disrespectful to the court, or who uses any menacing word, sign, or gesture in its presence, or who disturbs its proceedings by any riot or disorder.
(a) A person subject to this Code may be punished for contempt by confinement not to exceed 30 days or a fine up to $500, or both.
(b) A person not subject to this Code may be punished for contempt by a military court in the same manner as a criminal court of this State.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/49)
Sec. 49. Article 49. Depositions.
(a)    At any time after charges have been signed as provided in Article 30 of this Code, any party may take oral or written depositions unless the military judge hearing the case or, if the case is not being heard, an authority competent to convene a court-martial for the trial of those charges forbids it for good cause.
(b) The party at whose instance a deposition is to be taken shall give to every other party reasonable written notice of the time and place for taking the deposition.
(c)    Depositions  may  be  taken  before  and  authenticated  by  any  military  or  civil  officer authorized by the laws of this State or by the laws of the place where the deposition is taken to administer oaths.
(d)    A duly authenticated deposition taken upon reasonable notice to the other parties, so far as otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence, may be read in evidence or, in the case of audiotape, videotape, digital image or file, or similar material, may be played in evidence before any military court, if it appears:
(1) that the witness resides or is beyond the state     in which the court is ordered to sit, or beyond 100 miles from the place of trial or hearing;
(2)    that the witness by reason of death, age,     sickness, bodily infirmity, imprisonment, military necessity, non-amenability to process, or other reasonable cause, is unable or refuses to appear and testify in person at the place of trial or hearing; or
(3) that the present whereabouts of the witness is     unknown.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/50)
Sec. 50. Article 50. Admissibility of records of courts of inquiry.
(a)    In any case not extending to the dismissal of a commissioned officer, the sworn testimony, contained in the duly authenticated record of proceedings of a court of inquiry, of a person whose oral testimony cannot be obtained, may, if otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence, be read in evidence by any party before a court-martial if the accused was a party before the court of inquiry and if the same issue was involved or if the accused consents to the introduction of such evidence.
(b)    Such testimony may be read in evidence only by the defense in cases extending to the dismissal of a commissioned officer.
(c) Such testimony may also be read in evidence before a court of inquiry.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/50a)
Sec. 50a. Article 50a. Defense of lack of mental responsibility.
(a)    It is an affirmative defense in a trial by court-martial that, at the time of the commission of the acts constituting the offense, the accused, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of the acts.  Mental disease or defect does not otherwise constitute a defense.
(b)    The accused has the burden of proving the defense of lack of mental responsibility by clear and convincing evidence.
(c)    Whenever  lack  of  mental  responsibility  of  the  accused  with  respect  to  an  offense  is properly at issue, the military judge shall instruct the members of the court as to the defense of lack of mental responsibility under this Article and charge them to find the accused:
(1) guilty;
(2) not guilty; or
(3) not guilty only by reason of lack of mental     responsibility.
(d)    Subsection (c) does not apply to a court-martial composed of a military judge only.  In the case of a court-martial composed of a military judge only, whenever lack of mental responsibility of the accused with respect to an offense is properly at issue, the military judge shall find the accused:
(1) guilty;
(2) not guilty; or
(3) not guilty only by reason of lack of mental     responsibility.
(e)    Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 52 of this Code, the accused shall be found not guilty only by reason of lack of mental responsibility if:
(1)    a majority of the members of the court-martial     present at the time the vote is taken determines that the defense of lack of mental responsibility has been established; or
(2)    in the case of a court-martial composed of a     military judge only, the military judge determines that the defense of lack of mental responsibility has been established.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/51)
Sec. 51. Article 51. Voting and rulings.
(a)    Voting  by  members  of  a  general  or  special  court-martial  on  the  findings  and  on  the sentence shall be by secret written ballot.  The junior member of the court shall count the votes. The count shall be checked by the president, who shall forthwith announce the result of the ballot to the members of the court.
(b)    The military judge shall rule upon all questions of law and all interlocutory questions arising during the proceedings.  Any such ruling made by the military judge upon any question of law or any interlocutory question other than the factual issue of mental responsibility of the accused is final and constitutes the ruling of the court.  However, the military judge may change the ruling at any time during the trial.  Unless the ruling is final, if any member objects thereto, the court shall be cleared and closed and the question decided by a voice vote as provided in Article 52 of this Code, beginning with the junior in rank.
(c)    Before a vote is taken on the findings, the military judge shall, in the presence of the accused and counsel, instruct the members of the court as to the elements of the offense and charge them:
(1)    that the accused must be presumed to be     innocent until his guilt is established by legal and competent evidence beyond reasonable doubt;
(2)    that in the case being considered, if there is     a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused, the doubt must be resolved in favor of the accused and the accused must be acquitted;
(3)    that, if there is a reasonable doubt as to the     degree of guilt, the finding must be in a lower degree as to which there is no reasonable doubt; and
(4)    that the burden of proof to establish the     guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt is upon the State.
(d)    Subsections (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to a court-martial composed of a military judge only.  The military judge of such a court-martial shall determine all questions of law and fact
arising during the proceedings and, if the accused is convicted, adjudge an appropriate sentence. The military judge of such a court-martial shall make a general finding and shall in addition, on request, find the facts specially.  If an opinion or memorandum of decision is filed, it will be sufficient if the findings of fact appear therein.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/52)
Sec. 52. Article 52. Number of votes required.
(a) No person may be convicted of an offense except as provided in subsection (b) of Article 45 of this Code or by the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present at the time the vote is taken.
(b)    All other questions to be decided by the members of a general or special court-martial shall be determined by a majority vote, but a determination to reconsider a finding of guilty or to reconsider a sentence, with a view toward decreasing it, may be made by any lesser vote which indicates that the reconsideration is not opposed by the number of votes required for that finding or sentence.   A tie vote on a challenge disqualifies the member challenged.   A tie vote on a motion relating to the question of the accused's sanity is a determination against the accused.  A tie vote on any other question is a determination in favor of the accused.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/53)
Sec. 53. Article 53. Court to announce action. A court-martial shall announce its findings and sentence to the parties as soon as determined.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 1807/54)
Sec. 54. Article 54. Record of trial.
(a)    Each general and special court-martial shall keep a separate record of the proceedings in each case brought before it, and the record shall be authenticated by the signature of the military judge.  If the record cannot be authenticated by the military judge by reason of his death, disability, or absence, it shall be authenticated by the signature of the trial counsel or by that of a member, if the trial counsel is unable to authenticate it by reason of his death, disability, or absence.  In a court-martial consisting of only a military judge, the record shall be authenticated by the court reporter under the same conditions which would impose such a duty on a member under this subsection.
(b)(1) A complete verbatim record of the proceedings and testimony shall be prepared in each general and special court-martial case resulting in a conviction.
(2) In all other court-martial cases, the record shall contain such matters as may be prescribed by regulations.
(c) A copy of the record of the proceedings of each general and special court-martial shall be given to the accused as soon as it is authenticated.
(Source: P.A. 99-796, eff. 1-1-17.)