Court Opinion

ID: 9836969
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-02 03:15:46.465081+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:19.620091
License: Public Domain

SULLIVAN, Judge
(concurring in part and dissenting in part):
I concur in the majority opinion, except for the section on command influence. In my view, command influence cannot be waived unless the waiver is clear and knowing. Mere failure to raise command influence at the trial level does not constitute a waiver. See United States v. Hamilton, 41 MJ 32, 39-41 (CMA 1994) (separate opinions of Judges Wiss and Sullivan). The issue of command influence is such a special threat to justice in the military that the ability to raise it deserves special protections. A knowing and clear waiver must be found on the record to deprive this issue from an appellant who raises it in good faith on appeal.