To be court-martialed means to be tried in a military court for offenses against military law. It is a formal legal proceeding specifically for members of the armed forces, similar to a civilian criminal trial but conducted under military law and procedures. Courts-martial can hear cases involving serious offenses such as felonies, breaches of military discipline, misconduct, or other crimes applicable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) or relevant military law. There are three main types of courts-martial:
- Summary Court-Martial : The least formal, usually for minor offenses involving enlisted personnel only, with a single officer acting as judge and jury.
- Special Court-Martial : An intermediate-level court, trying more serious offenses than summary courts but less serious than general courts. It includes a military judge and a panel of service members or sometimes only the judge.
- General Court-Martial : The highest and most formal, for the most serious offenses, functioning similarly to felony courts in the civilian system. It consists of a military judge and a panel of at least five service members or just the judge if requested. It can impose the widest range of punishments, including dishonorable discharge, imprisonment, or even death in some cases.
Being court-martialed carries significant consequences, ranging from fines, reduction in rank, dismissal from service, to imprisonment or capital punishment, depending on the severity of the offense and the type of court- martial involved. The accused has rights such as legal representation, presenting evidence, and appealing convictions.
