Code of Military Justice

This Code, which is uniformly applicable in all its parts to the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard, covers both the substantive and the procedural law governing military justice and its administration in all of the armed forces of the United States. The Code established a system of military courts, defines offenses, authorizes punishment, provides broad procedural guidance, and statutory safeguards which conform to the due process safeguards preserved and established by the constitution. As an additional safeguard for an accused person, the Code also provides for a system of automatic appellate review. A Court of Military Review is established within each service to review all court-martial cases where the sentence includes death, a punitive discharge, or confinement for one year or more. Appellate review in this court is automatic. No approved sentence of a courtsmartial may be executed unless such findings and sentence are affirmed by a Court of Military Review. In addition, the Court of Military Appeals was established to review certain cases from all the Armed Forces. The latter Court consists of three civilian judges. Automatic review before the Court is provided for all cases in which the sentence, as affirmed by a Court ot Military Review, affects a general or flag officer or extends to death. In addition, the Judge Advocate General of each service may direct that a case be reviewed by the Court. An accused may petition the Court for review. 10 U.S.C.A. No. 801 et seq. Uniform Code. Many states have adopted the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and others have adopted acts substantially following the Uniform Code