Chapter V · Court-Martial Composition and Personnel; Convening Courts-Martial
R.C.M. 501. Composition and personnel of courts-martial
2024 Manual for Courts-Martial, United States
Recent revisions Summary of changes Cited by (7)(a) Composition of courts-martial.
(1) General courts-martial.
(A) Non-capital cases. In non-capital cases, a general court-martial shall consist of:
(i) A military judge and eight members;
(ii) A military judge, eight members, and any alternate members authorized by the convening authority;
(iii) A military judge alone if trial by a military judge is requested and approved under R.C.M. 903; or
(iv) A military judge and six or seven members, but only if, after impanelment, the panel is reduced below eight members as a result of challenges or excusals.
(B) Capital cases. In capital cases, a general court-martial shall consist of:
(i) A military judge and twelve members; or
(ii) A military judge, twelve members, and any alternate members authorized by the convening authority.
(2) Special courts-martial. Special courts-martial shall consist of:
(A) A military judge and four members;
(B) A military judge, four members, and any alternate members authorized by the convening authority;
(C) A military judge alone if trial by a military judge is requested and approved under R.C.M. 903; or
(D) A military judge alone if the case is referred for trial by a special court-martial consisting of a military judge alone under Article 16(c)(2)(A).
(b) Counsel in general and special courts-martial. Military trial and defense counsel shall be detailed to general and special courts-martial. Assistant trial and associate or assistant defense counsel may be detailed.
(c) Other personnel. Other personnel, such as interpreters, bailiffs, clerks, escorts, and orderlies, may be detailed or employed as appropriate but need not be detailed by the convening authority personally.
Cross-referencesCited by 7Cites 4
Cited by
Provisions elsewhere in the Manual whose text cites R.C.M. 501. Each link opens the citing provision.
Rules for Courts-Martial
Discussion under R.C.M. 201(b)(2) — Jurisdiction in general
See R.C.M. 501-504; 1301.
Discussion under R.C.M. 502(d)(4) — Qualifications and duties of personnel of courts-martial (501(a))
…or allied papers; and report an actual or anticipated reduction of the number of members required under R.C.M. 501(a) to the convening authority. Except for offenses over which a special trial counsel has exercised authority…
…the number of members of the court-martial is reduced below the number of members required under R.C.M. 501(a), or the number of enlisted members, when the accused has made a timely written request for enlisted members,…
Discussion under R.C.M. 804(c)(1) — Presence at court-martial proceedings
See R.C.M. 501 and R.C.M. 505 concerning the minimum number of members and the procedures to follow when members are…
R.C.M. 912(b)(3) — Challenge of selection of members; examination and challenges of members (501(a))
…motion under this subsection shall forfeit the improper selection unless it constitutes a violation of R.C.M. 501(a), 502(a)(1), or 503(a)(2).
Discussion under R.C.M. 912(g)(3) — Challenge of selection of members; examination and challenges of members (501(a))
When the membership of the court-martial has been reduced below the number of members required under R.C.M. 501(a), as applicable, or, when enlisted members have been requested and the fraction of enlisted members has been…
…of enlisted members before identifying the remaining members to ensure the number of members required under R.C.M. 501(a), as applicable, is reached. For example, in a general court-martial in which the accused has requested at…
R.C.M. 501 cites
Provisions named in the text of R.C.M. 501. Where the cited provision is on this site, the link opens it.