Summary of changes
R.C.M. 501 — Composition and personnel of courts-martial
The text as it stood in the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition beside the current text, provision by provision, with every recorded amendment and the authority behind it — the whole R.C.M. in one view.
0 amended
0 added
0 removed
18 unchanged
No changes recorded for this R.C.M. —
its text is the same as the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition.
Showing every provision.
Provisions
501(a)
unchanged
Original text
Composition of courts-martial.
Current text
Composition of courts-martial.
501(a)(1)
unchanged
Original text
General courts-martial.
Current text
General courts-martial.
501(a)(1)(A)
unchanged
Original text
Non-capital cases.
In non-capital cases, a general court-martial shall consist of:
Current text
Non-capital cases.
In non-capital cases, a general court-martial shall consist of:
501(a)(1)(A)(i)
unchanged
Original text
A military judge and eight members;
Current text
A military judge and eight members;
501(a)(1)(A)(ii)
unchanged
Original text
A military judge, eight members, and any alternate members authorized by the convening authority;
Current text
A military judge, eight members, and any alternate members authorized by the convening authority;
501(a)(1)(A)(iii)
unchanged
Original text
A military judge alone if trial by a military judge is requested and approved under R.C.M. 903; or
Current text
A military judge alone if trial by a military judge is requested and approved under R.C.M. 903; or
501(a)(1)(A)(iv)
unchanged
Original text
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.
Current text
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.
501(a)(1)(B)
unchanged
Original text
Capital cases.
In capital cases, a general court-martial shall consist of:
Current text
Capital cases.
In capital cases, a general court-martial shall consist of:
501(a)(1)(B)(i)
unchanged
Original text
A military judge and twelve members; or
Current text
A military judge and twelve members; or
501(a)(1)(B)(ii)
unchanged
Original text
A military judge, twelve members, and any alternate members authorized by the convening authority.
Current text
A military judge, twelve members, and any alternate members authorized by the convening authority.
501(a)(2)
unchanged
Original text
Special courts-martial.
Special courts-martial shall consist of:
Current text
Special courts-martial.
Special courts-martial shall consist of:
501(a)(2)(A)
unchanged
Original text
A military judge and four members;
Current text
A military judge and four members;
501(a)(2)(B)
unchanged
Original text
A military judge, four members, and any alternate members authorized by the convening authority;
Current text
A military judge, four members, and any alternate members authorized by the convening authority;
501(a)(2)(C)
unchanged
Original text
A military judge alone if trial by a military judge is requested and approved under R.C.M. 903; or
Current text
A military judge alone if trial by a military judge is requested and approved under R.C.M. 903; or
501(a)(2)(D)
unchanged
Original text
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).
Current text
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).
501(a)(2)(D)|D
unchanged
Original text
See R.C.M. 903 regarding the right of an enlisted accused to request a panel of at least one-third enlisted members or an all-officer panel. See R.C.M. 912A regarding the impaneling of members and alternate members. See R.C.M. 1301(a) concerning composition of summary courts-martial.
Current text
See R.C.M. 903 regarding the right of an enlisted accused to request a panel of at least one-third enlisted members or an all-officer panel. See R.C.M. 912A regarding the impaneling of members and alternate members. See R.C.M. 1301(a) concerning composition of summary courts-martial.
501(b)
unchanged
Original text
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.
Current text
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.
501(c)
unchanged
Original text
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.
Current text
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.
“Original text” is the state captured the first time a provision was edited under change tracking — i.e. the text as published in the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition. Provisions edited without being “marked as changed” (typos, formatting) are not recorded here; see the recent revisions feed and the site-wide changes log.