U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
CAAF Opinion Digest
The court's own topic-by-topic digest of its opinions since the 1999 Term of Court — every headnote, under the court's outline, with each case linked to the opinion. Mirrored here so it can be searched in one place and read beside the Manual.
347
topics
6,848
headnote entries
1,358
digested opinions
1,617
opinions since 1997
I. First Principles · 20 topics, 504 entries
A. Jurisdiction · 90
B. Constitutional Matters · 414
II. Military Justice Personnel · 42 topics, 930 entries
A. Defense Function · 162
B. Prosecution Function · 42
C. Military Judge · 497
D. Court Members · 123
E. Staff Judge Advocate · 24
F. Convening Authority · 73
H. Special Victim's Counsel · 1
III. Core Criminal Law Subjects · 178 topics, 1,799 entries
A. Crimes Pre-2019 offenses · 443
Offenses committed before 1 January 2019 (pre-2016 amendment) — opinions from the 1999 through 2020 Terms of Court
- Generally4
- Article 77 - Principals8
- Article 79 - Conviction of Lesser Included Offenses11
- Article 80 - Attempts15
- Article 81 - Conspiracy14
- Article 83 - Fraudulent Enlistment, Appointment, or Separation2
- Article 85 - Desertion1
- Article 86 - Absence without Leave5
- Article 87 -- Missing Movement1
- Article 89 - Disrespect Toward a Superior Commissioned Officer1
- Article 90 - Assaulting or Willfully Disobeying Superior Commissioned Officer6
- Article 91 - Insubordinate Conduct Toward Warrant Officer, Noncommissioned Officer, or Petty Officer2
- Article 92 - Failure to Obey Order or Regulation21
- Article 93 - Cruelty and Maltreatment9
- Article 95 - Resistance, Flight, Breach of Arrest, and Escape6
- Article 104 - Aiding the Enemy1
- Article 107 - False Official Statements10
- Article 108 - Military Property of the U.S.-Sale, Loss, Damage, Destruction, or Wrongful Disposition2
- Article 110 - Improper Hazarding of Vessel1
- Article 111 - Drunken or Reckless Operation of Vehicle, Aircraft, or Vessel1
- Art. 112a -- Wrongful Use, Possession, etc, of Controlled Substances17
- Article 117 - Provoking Speeches or Gestures2
- Article 118 - Murder9
- Article 119 - Manslaughter7
- Article 120 - Rape and Carnal Knowledge13
- Article 120 - Rape, Sexual Assault, and Other Sexual Misconduct post-2007 Amendment1
- Article 120 - Rape, Sexual Assault, and Other Sexual Misconduct post-2007 Amendment3
- Article 120 - Rape, Sexual Assault, and Other Sexual Misconduct post-2007 Amendment2
- Article 120 - Rape, Sexual Assault, and Other Sexual Misconduct post-2007 Amendment6
- Article 120 - Rape, Sexual Assault, and Other Sexual Misconduct post-2007 Amendment2
- Article 120 - Rape, Sexual Assault, and Other Sexual Misconduct2
- Article 120 - Rape, Sexual Assault, and Other Sexual Misconduct2
- Article 120 - Rape, Sexual Assault, and Other Sexual Misconduct1
- Article 120b - Rape and Sexual Assault Generally post-2012 Amendment3
- Article 120 - Rape and Sexual Assault Generally post-2012 Amendment2
- Article 120 - Rape and Sexual Assault Generally post-2012 Amendment -- Offenses committed during the period 28 Jun 2012 through 31 Dec 20186
- Article 120 - Rape and Sexual Assault Generally post-2012 Amendment4
- Article 120a - Stalking1
- Article 120b - Rape and Sexual Assault of a Child post-2012 Amendment2
- Article 120b - Rape and Sexual Assault of a Child post-2012 Amendment3
- Article 120c - Other Sexual Misconduct post-2012 Amendment2
- Article 121 - Larceny and Wrongful Appropriation15
- Article 122 - Robbery1
- Article 123 - Forgery2
- Article 123a - Making, Drawing, or Uttering Check, Draft, or Order without Sufficient Funds1
- Article 125 - Sodomy11
- Article 127 - Extortion1
- Article 128 - Assault18
- Article 129 - Burglary1
- Article 130 - Housebreaking5
- Article 133 - Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman12
- Article 134 - General Article29
- Article 134 - Adultery4
- Article 134 -- Assault, Indecent5
- Article 134 -- Bribery and Graft2
- Article 134 -- Check, Worthless, Making and Uttering -- by Dishonorably Failing to Maintain Funds1
- Article 134 -- Child Endangerment (para 68a, MCM)3
- Article 134 -- Child Pornography (para 68b, MCM, *** Post-2012 Amendment)5
- Article 134 -- Debt, Dishonorably Failing to Pay1
- Article 134 -- Disloyal Statements1
- Article 134 -- False Swearing1
- Article 134 -- Firearm, Discharging – Willfully under such Circumstancesas to Endanger Human Life1
- Article 134 -- Fraternization1
- Article 134 -- Gambling with Subordinate1
- Article 134 -- Negligent Homicide3
- Article 134 - Indecent Acts or Liberties with a Child9
- Article 134 - Indecent Exposure3
- Article 134 - Indecent Language2
- Article 134 -- Indecent Acts with Another9
- Article 134 -- Kidnapping3
- Article 134 -- Mail-Taking, Opening, Secreting, Destroying, or Stealing1
- Article 134 - Mails --Depositing or Causing to be Deposited Obscene Matters in1
- Article 134 - Misprision of Serious Offense1
- Art. 134 - Obstructing Justice7
- Art. 134 - Pandering and Prostitution1
- Article 134 -- Reckless Endangerment (para 100a, MCM)2
- Article 134 – Restriction, Breaking1
- Article 134 -- Self-injury without Intent to Avoid Service (para 103a, MCM)1
- Article 134 - Soliciting Another to Commit an Offense4
- Article 134 - Stolen Property-Knowingly Receiving, Buying, Concealing1
- Article 134 - Threat, Communicating3
- Article 134 - Unlawful Entry1
- Article 134 - Weapon, Concealed and Carrying1
- Art. 134 - Miscellaneous -- Clause 1, Clause 2, or Clause 356
AA. Crimes Offenses on/after 1 Jan 2019 · 44
Offenses committed on or after 1 January 2019 (post-2016 amendment) — opinions from the 2021 Term of Court forward
- Generally4
- Article 80 - Attempts3
- Article 81 - Conspiracy1
- Article 91 - Insubordinate Conduct Toward Warrant Officer, Noncommissioned Officer, or Petty Officer1
- Article 109 - Property Other Than Military Property of US - Waste, Spoilage, or Destruction1
- Article 112a - Wrongful Use, Possession, etc., of Controlled Substances2
- Article 113 - Drunken or Reckless Operation of a Vehicle, Aircraft, or Vessel1
- Article 117a - Wrongful Broadcast or Distribution of Intimate Visual Images2
- Article 119b – Child Endangerment1
- Article 120 - Rape and Sexual Assault Generally8
- Article 120b - Rape and Sexual Assault of a Child1
- Article 120c - Other Sexual Misconduct1
- Article 131e: Prevention of Authorized Seizure of Property1
- Article 133: Conduct Unbecoming an Officer2
- Article 134: General Article5
- Article 134: Child Pornography1
- Article 134: Indecent Conduct3
- Art. 134 - Miscellaneous -- Clause 1, Clause 2, or Clause 36
B. Defenses · 102
- Generally13
- Affirmative Defenses20
- Accident2
- Defense of Property2
- Duress6
- Entrapment1
- Former Jeopardy6
- Gambler's Defense1
- Impossibility1
- Innocent Ingestion4
- Innocent / Inadvertent Possession1
- Justification1
- Lack of Mental Responsibility17
- Mistake of Fact14
- Necessity3
- Obedience to Orders2
- Self-Defense8
C. Evidence · 869
- Generally53
- Accomplice Testimony3
- Authentication3
- Balancing38
- Character17
- Confessions and Admissions122
- Credibility18
- Expert / Scientific Testimony36
- Hearsay63
- Immunized Testimony5
- Impeachment9
- Inferences7
- Instructions on9
- Intent5
- Judicial Notice4
- Motive3
- Opinion Testimony15
- Other Acts28
- Plan or Design2
- Plea Negotiations3
- Polygraph7
- Prejudice4
- Prior Consistent Statements7
- Prior Convictions3
- Prior Inconsistent Statements6
- Privileges37
- Proffers1
- Public Records1
- Rebuttal2
- Relevance41
- Rule of Completeness4
- Scientific Evidence10
- Search and Seizure201
- Sexual Assault and Child Molestation40
- Stipulations8
- Summaries1
- Suppression5
- Transcripts of Audio Recordings1
- Uncharged Misconduct22
- Waiver25
D. Witnesses · 123
E. Burdens, Standards, Presumptions, Inferences · 194
F. Motions, Generally · 24
IV. Trial Stages · 74 topics, 3,168 entries
A. Pretrial · 145
B. Merits · 421
C. Sentence and Punishment · 211
D. Post-Trial Hearings · 35
E. Initial Review · 117
F. Writs and Interlocutory Appeals · 60
G. Appeals · 2,160
- Generally50
- Courts of Criminal Appeals210
- Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces142
- Cumulative Error5
- Invited Error / Open Door8
- Harmless / Prejudicial Error304
- Preservation of Error / Plain Error166
- Grostefon2
- Law of the Case14
- Remedies104
- Reconsideration2
- Review by Judge Advocate General1
- Scope of Review23
- Standards of Review, Burdens, etc.1011
- Structural Error1
- Waiver117
H. Petition for a New Trial · 19
V. Miscellaneous Matters · 33 topics, 447 entries
A. Command Influence · 63
B. Speedy Trial · 80
C. Manual for Courts-Martial · 38
D. Multiplicity and Lesser Included Offenses · 75
E. Nonjudicial Punishment (Article 15) · 4
F. Statutes, Treaties, Regulations, Executive Orders, Directives, etc. · 147
G. Judicial Review · 31
H. Professional Responsibility / Ethics · 5
Most recent opinions
| Oct 8, 2026 |
U.S. v. Nelson No. 26-0059/AF
|
| Sep 30, 2026 |
U.S. v. Casillas No. 26-0096/AF
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| Sep 29, 2026 |
U.S. v. Marin Perez No. 25-0238/AF
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| Sep 28, 2026 |
U.S. v. Menard No. 25-0173/AF
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| Sep 21, 2026 |
U.S. v. Forrest No. 25-0081/AR
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| Sep 17, 2026 |
U.S. v. Grafton No. 26-0039/NA
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| Sep 10, 2026 |
U.S. v. Babbitt No. 25-0220/NA
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| Sep 1, 2026 |
U.S. v. Kruse No. 26-0156/MC
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| Aug 27, 2026 |
U.S. v. Flores No. 26-0005/NA
|
| Aug 24, 2026 |
U.S. v. Armour No. 26-0116/AF
|
Two Crimes sections
The court split III. Core Criminal Law Subjects › Crimes when the 2016 amendments to the punitive articles took effect: III.A digests opinions from the 1999–2020 Terms (offenses before 1 January 2019); III.AA digests the 2021 Term forward (offenses on or after that date). Both are mirrored; each topic page says which it is and links to its counterpart.
The Manual's Part IV text of each article is at UCMJ › Punitive Articles.
Source and status
This is a verbatim mirror of the Opinion Digest and opinions tables published by the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. The headnotes are the court staff’s summaries of the opinions, reproduced as published; they are not the opinions themselves and not this site’s commentary. Nothing here is edited on this site.
Last updated by the court: Oct 13, 2026 · mirrored Oct 29, 2026 · Always confirm a holding against the opinion itself (linked from each case name).