Legal Definitions - court-martial order

A court-martial order is an official written document issued by military authorities that formally records the final outcome of a court-martial proceeding. It details the findings of the court (whether the accused was found guilty or not guilty of the charges) and, if a conviction occurred, specifies any sentence imposed, such as confinement, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, or dismissal from service. This order serves as the official legal record of the trial's conclusion.

• Example 1: A Marine, Sergeant Miller, was tried by a general court-martial for unauthorized absence. After the trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to 60 days of confinement and a reduction in rank to Private. The court-martial order for Sergeant Miller would be the official document stating his conviction for unauthorized absence, detailing the specific charges, and formally imposing the sentence of 60 days confinement and reduction to Private. This written order makes the trial's result official and actionable.

• Example 2: A Navy Lieutenant, Commander Davis, was accused of negligence in handling classified information. After presenting her defense, the court-martial found her not guilty of all charges. The court-martial order in Commander Davis's case would be the official document declaring her acquittal. It would formally state that she was found not guilty of the negligence charges, thereby clearing her record and allowing her to continue her service without penalty related to those accusations.

• Example 3: An Air Force Captain, Captain Chen, faced a special court-martial for misuse of government property. The court found her guilty of a lesser included offense and sentenced her to a formal reprimand and forfeiture of one month's pay. The court-martial order for Captain Chen would formally document the finding of guilt for the specific offense, and then clearly outline the imposed sentence, which in this instance includes both a formal reprimand and the forfeiture of one month's pay. This order is the authoritative record of the judgment and its consequences.