Court Opinion

ID: 9836884
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-02 03:15:22.006536+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:19.149177
License: Public Domain

SULLIVAN, Judge
(concurring in the result):
Common sense in trial practice must prevail again. United States v. Turner, 47 MJ 348, 351 (1997) (Sullivan, J., concurring in the result). In this case, appellee stood next to his counsel as his attorney asked for the jury to be composed of one-third enlisted members. This request on the record followed other on the record discussions about this matter and an “on the record” affirmation by appellee of his knowledge of his right to an enlisted section of the jury. I would hold as I did in United States v. Turner, supra (“substantial compliance” with Article 16— the right to trial by judge alone) that there was substantial compliance with Article 25 in the present case. Appellee was present and knowledgeable when his attorney asked for enlisted members. Appellee got enlisted members for his trial. I find his technical attack on the jury’s verdict must fail. Fairness and common sense, not technicalities, should rule the law. United States v. Turner, supra; see United States v. Mayfield, 45 MJ 176, 177-78 (1996); United States v. Yates, 28 MJ 60 (CMA 1989); United States v. Jette, 25 MJ 16 (CMA 1987).