Summary of changes
R.C.M. 1301 — Summary 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.
2 amended
0 added
0 removed
16 unchanged
2 authority-backed edits · recorded
2026-07-14 – 2026-07-14
Authorities behind these changes
- Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) · Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20 · 2 changes
Showing changed provisions only.
Provisions
1301(a)
amended
Version history
Original text
Composition.
A summary court-martial is composed of one commissioned officer on active duty. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a summary court-martial shall be of the same armed force as the accused. Summary courts-martial shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the military Service to which the accused belongs. Whenever practicable, a summary court-martial should be an officer whose grade is not below lieutenant of the Navy or Coast Guard or captain of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force. When only one commissioned officer is present with a command or detachment, that officer shall be the summary court-martial of that command or detachment. When more than one commissioned officer is present with a command or detachment, the convening authority may not be the summary court-martial of that command or detachment.
Current text
Composition.
A summary court-martial is composed of one commissioned officer on active duty. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a summary court-martial shall be of the same armed force as the accused. Summary courts-martial shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the military Service to which the accused belongs. Whenever practicable, a summary court-martial should be an officer whose grade is not below lieutenant of the Navy or Coast Guard or captain of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.
All changes since the original (removed / added)
Composition.
A summary court-martial is composed of one commissioned officer on active duty. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a summary court-martial shall be of the same armed force as the accused. Summary courts-martial shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the military Service to which the accused belongs. Whenever practicable, a summary court-martial should be an officer whose grade is not below lieutenant of the Navy or Coast Guard or captain of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force. When only one commissioned officer is present with a command or detachment, that officer shall be the summary court-martial of that command or detachment. When more than one commissioned officer is present with a command or detachment, the convening authority may not be the summary court-martial of that command or detachment.
A summary court-martial is composed of one commissioned officer on active duty. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a summary court-martial shall be of the same armed force as the accused. Summary courts-martial shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the military Service to which the accused belongs. Whenever practicable, a summary court-martial should be an officer whose grade is not below lieutenant of the Navy or Coast Guard or captain of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2 | 2026-07-14 | Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) (Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20) | Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, is amended as follows: . . . (hh) R.C.M. 1301(a) is amended to read as follows: "(a) Composition. A summary court-martial is composed of one commissioned officer on active duty. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a summary court-martial shall be of the same armed force as the accused. Summary courts-martial shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the military Service to which the accused belongs. Whenever practicable, a summary court-martial should be an officer whose grade is not below lieutenant of the Navy or Coast Guard or captain of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force." | admin |
Composition. A summary court-martial is composed of one commissioned officer on active duty. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a summary court-martial shall be of the same armed force as the accused. Summary courts-martial shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the military Service to which the accused belongs. Whenever practicable, a summary court-martial should be an officer whose grade is not below lieutenant of the Navy or Coast Guard or captain of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force. |
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1301(e)
amended
Version history
Original text
Counsel.
The accused at a summary court-martial does not have the right to counsel. If the accused has counsel qualified under R.C.M. 502(d)(2), that counsel may be permitted to represent the accused at the summary court-martial if such appearance will not unreasonably delay the proceedings and if military exigencies do not preclude it.
Current text
Counsel.
The accused at a summary court-martial has a right to military defense counsel. The accused may expressly waive the right to be represented by defense counsel and may thereafter conduct the defense personally. Such waiver shall be accepted by the summary court-martial officer only upon finding that the accused is competent to understand the disadvantages of self-representation and that the waiver is voluntary and understanding. The right of the accused to conduct the defense personally may be revoked if the accused is disruptive or fails to follow basic rules of decorum and procedure.
All changes since the original (removed / added)
Counsel.
The accused at a summary court-martialdoeshas nota haveright to military defense counsel. The accused may expressly waive the right to counsel.be Ifrepresented by defense counsel and may thereafter conduct the accuseddefense haspersonally. counselSuch qualifiedwaiver undershall R.C.M.be 502(d)(2),accepted by the summary court-martial officer only upon finding that counselthe mayaccused beis permittedcompetent to representunderstand the accuseddisadvantages atof self-representation and that the summarywaiver court-martialis ifvoluntary suchand appearanceunderstanding. willThe notright unreasonablyof delaythe accused to conduct the proceedingsdefense andpersonally may be revoked if militarythe exigenciesaccused dois notdisruptive precludeor it.fails to follow basic rules of decorum and procedure.
The accused at a summary court-martial
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2 | 2026-07-14 | Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) (Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20) | Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, is amended as follows: . . . (ii) R.C.M. 1301(e) is amended to read as follows: "(e) Counsel. The accused at a summary court-martial has a right to military defense counsel. The accused may expressly waive the right to be represented by defense counsel and may thereafter conduct the defense personally. Such waiver shall be accepted by the summary court-martial officer only upon finding that the accused is competent to understand the disadvantages of self-representation and that the waiver is voluntary and understanding. The right of the accused to conduct the defense personally may be revoked if the accused is disruptive or fails to follow basic rules of decorum and procedure." | admin |
Counsel. The accused at a summary court-martial |
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“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.