You know nothing, it seems, about a court-martial works. There will be an Article 31 hearing, with a very experienced JAG defense counsel for a retired four-star general, that would make the recommendation to the court-martial convening officer whether to convene a trial, just for starters, then it gets fun. You have never worked in or for the JAG, obviously. You would be better off consulting the Uniform Code of Military Justice, particularly the following Articles, to understand how it works.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) outlines the articles that govern court-martial procedures. Here are some key articles related to court-martial:
- Article 16 (10 U.S.C. § 816): Court-Martial Jurisdiction
- Article 22 (10 U.S.C. § 822): Who May Convene General Courts-Martial
- Article 23 (10 U.S.C. § 823): Who May Convene Special Courts-Martial
- Article 24 (10 U.S.C. § 824): Who May Convene Summary Courts-Martial
- Article 25 (10 U.S.C. § 825): Who May Serve on Courts-Martial
- Article 30 (10 U.S.C. § 830): Charges and Specifications
- Article 32 (10 U.S.C. § 832): Preliminary Hearing
- Article 36 (10 U.S.C. § 836): President May Prescribe Rules
- Article 37 (10 U.S.C. § 837): Unlawfully Influencing Action of Court
- Article 38 (10 U.S.C. § 838): Duties of Trial Counsel and Defense Counsel
- Article 39 (10 U.S.C. § 839): Sessions
- Article 41 (10 U.S.C. § 841): Challenges
- Article 42 (10 U.S.C. § 842): Oaths
- Article 43 (10 U.S.C. § 843): Statute of Limitations
- Article 44 (10 U.S.C. § 844): Former Jeopardy
- Article 45 (10 U.S.C. § 845): Pleas of the Accused
- Article 46 (10 U.S.C. § 846): Opportunity to Obtain Witnesses and Other Evidence
- Article 47 (10 U.S.C. § 847): Refusal to Appear or Testify
- Article 48 (10 U.S.C. § 848): Contempt
- Article 49 (10 U.S.C. § 849): Depositions
- Article 50 (10 U.S.C. § 850): Admissibility of Records of Courts of Inquiry
- Article 51 (10 U.S.C. § 851): Voting and Rulings
- Article 52 (10 U.S.C. § 852): Number of Votes Required
- Article 53 (10 U.S.C. § 853): Court to Announce Action
- Article 54 (10 U.S.C. § 854): Record of Trial
- Article 55 (10 U.S.C. § 855): Cruel and Unusual Punishments Prohibited
- Article 56 (10 U.S.C. § 856): Maximum and Minimum Limits
- Article 57 (10 U.S.C. § 857): Effective Date of Sentences
- Article 58 (10 U.S.C. § 858): Execution of Confinement
- Article 59 (10 U.S.C. § 859): Error of Law; Lesser Included Offense
- Article 60 (10 U.S.C. § 860): Post-Trial Processing in General and Special Courts-Martial
- Article 61 (10 U.S.C. § 861): Waiver or Withdrawal of Appellate Review
- Article 62 (10 U.S.C. § 862): Appeal by the United States
- Article 63 (10 U.S.C. § 863): Rehearings
- Article 64 (10 U.S.C. § 864): Review by a Judge Advocate
- Article 65 (10 U.S.C. § 865): Disposition of Records
- Article 66 (10 U.S.C. § 866): Review by Court of Criminal Appeals
- Article 67 (10 U.S.C. § 867): Review by the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
- Article 68 (10 U.S.C. § 868): Branch Offices
- Article 69 (10 U.S.C. § 869): Review in the Office of the Judge Advocate General
- Article 70 (10 U.S.C. § 870): Appellate Counsel
- Article 71 (10 U.S.C. § 871): Execution of Sentence; Suspension of Sentence
- Article 72 (10 U.S.C. § 872): Vacation of Suspension
- Article 73 (10 U.S.C. § 873): Petition for a New Trial
- Article 74 (10 U.S.C. § 874): Remission and Suspension
- Article 75 (10 U.S.C. § 875): Restoration
- Article 76 (10 U.S.C. § 876): Finality of Proceedings, Findings, and Sentences
- Article 76a (10 U.S.C. § 876a): Leave Required to be Taken Pending Review of Certain Court-Martial Convictions
- Article 77 (10 U.S.C. § 877): Principals
- Article 78 (10 U.S.C. § 878): Accessory After the Fact
- Article 79 (10 U.S.C. § 879): Conviction of Lesser Included Offense
- Article 80 (10 U.S.C. § 880): Attempts
- Article 81 (10 U.S.C. § 881): Conspiracy
- Article 82 (10 U.S.C. § 882): Solicitation
- Article 83 (10 U.S.C. § 883): Fraudulent Enlistment, Appointment, or Separation
- Article 84 (10 U.S.C. § 884): Unlawful Enlistment, Appointment, or Separation
- Article 85 (10 U.S.C. § 885): Desertion
- Article 86 (10 U.S.C. § 886): Absence Without Leave
- Article 87 (10 U.S.C. § 887): Missing Movement; Jumping from Vessel
- Article 88 (10 U.S.C. § 888): Contempt Toward Officials
- Article 89 (10 U.S.C. § 889): Disrespect Toward Superior Commissioned Officer
- Article 90 (10 U.S.C. § 890): Assaulting or Willfully Disobeying Superior Commissioned Officer
- Article 91 (10 U.S.C. § 891): Insubordinate Conduct Toward Warrant Officer, Noncommissioned Officer, or Petty Officer
- Article 92 (10 U.S.C. § 892): Failure to Obey Order or Regulation
- Article 93 (10 U.S.C. § 893): Cruelty and Maltreatment
- Article 94 (10 U.S.C. § 894): Mutiny or Sedition
- Article 95 (10 U.S.C. § 895): Resistance, Breach of Arrest, and Escape
- Article 96 (10 U.S.C. § 896): Releasing Prisoner Without Proper Authority
- Article 97 (10 U.S.C. § 897): Unlawful Detention
- Article 98 (10 U.S.C. § 898): Noncompliance with Procedural Rules
- Article 99 (10 U.S.C. § 899): Misbehavior Before the Enemy
- Article 100 (10 U.S.C. § 900): Subordinate Compelling Surrender
- Article 101 (10 U.S.C. § 901): Improper Use of Countersign
- Article 102 (10 U.S.C. § 902): Forcing a Safeguard
- Article 103 (10 U.S.C. § 903): Captured or Abandoned Property
- Article 104 (10 U.S.C. § 904): Aiding the Enemy
- Article 105 (10 U.S.C. § 905): Misconduct as Prisoner
- Article 106 (10 U.S.C. § 906): Spies
- Article 106a (10 U.S.C. § 906a): Espionage
- Article 107 (10 U.S.C. § 907): False Official Statements
- Article 108 (10 U.S.C. § 908): Military Property of United States—Loss, Damage, Destruction, or Wrongful Disposition
- Article 109 (10 U.S.C. § 909): Property Other Than Military Property of United States—Waste, Spoilage, or Destruction
- Article 110 (10 U.S.C. § 910): Improper Hazarding of Vessel