United States v. Kelson

3 M.J. 139, 1977 CMA LEXIS 9840
CourtUnited States Court of Military Appeals
DecidedMay 31, 1977
DocketNo. 31,460; SPCM 11249
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 3 M.J. 139 (United States v. Kelson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Military Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Kelson, 3 M.J. 139, 1977 CMA LEXIS 9840 (cma 1977).

Opinions

COOK, Judge:

The appellant was tried by a special court-martial before a military judge alone for breach of the peace (two specifications) and assault, in violation of Articles 116 and 128, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 916 and 928, respectively. Contrary to his pleas, he was found guilty as charged and sentenced to a reduction to the lowest enlisted grade, detention of $200 pay per month for 3 months, and a bad-conduct discharge.

During an Article 39(a)1 session, the trial defense counsel moved to dismiss specification 1 of Charge I on the basis it was multiplicious with the offense alleged under [140]*140the specification of Charge II.2 Specification 1 of Charge I alleged the appellant breached the peace on August 21, 1974, “by wrongfully standing on tables, shouting and throwing beer mugs in the Beer Tent of the Bad Kreuznach Jahrmarkt.” The specification under Charge II alleged an assault upon a German policeman on the same day by striking him with a beer mug, and the evidence of record reflects the assault also occurred in the beer tent of the Bad Kreuznach Jahrmarkt. After some discussion between the military judge and the trial defense counsel as to when the charges were served on the appellant, the military judge refused to entertain the motion to dismiss for multiplicity on the basis the defense counsel had not complied with rule 34, Uniform Rules of Practice before Army Courts-Martial (hereafter referred to as Uniform Rules).

The Uniform Rules were added to Department of the Army Pamphlet 27 — 9, Military Judges’ Guide, as appendix H by change 4, dated January 9, 1973. Similarly, they were incorporated into Army Regulation 27-10, paragraph 2 — 32 by change 10, dated February 23, 1973. Both DA Pamphlet 27 — 9 and AR 27 — 10 were promulgated by order of the Secretary of the Army.

At the time of trial, rule 34 provided the following:

Preliminary matters — motions and hearings. Counsel shall be prepared to dispose of all motions at one preliminary hearing during an Article 39a session. See paragraph 53d, MCM. As soon as practicable after service of charges, and prior to the expiration of the time period prescribed in Rule 33, a defense counsel who wishes to present a motion or other pleading will prepare and furnish to the trial counsel, with a copy to the trial judge, a Motions and Hearings Checklist (fig. H-l), accompanied by any written motions or other pleadings. He will indicate thereon those issues he wishes to litigate at a proposed preliminary hearing, specifying whether the hearing will involve argument only, or also presentation of evidence. As soon as counsel have determined that a preliminary hearing is necessary, they will arrange with the trial judge for a mutually satisfactory date. Motions or other pleadings which are prescribed to be considered by a trial judge at a preliminary hearing which are not presented in accordance with this rule will not be entertained at a preliminary hearing or — during the trial proper except for good cause shown.3 [Emphasis added.]

During the period in question, rule 33 required service of the checklist on the trial counsel within 10 days after the service of charges on the accused.

The military judge, after noting that the trial defense counsel had not submitted a written motion prior to the Article 39(a) session, refused to entertain the motion to dismiss. We granted review to determine whether the military judge erred in refusing to entertain the motion, and whether the Uniform Rules have been prescribed by proper authority.

Appellant submits that rule 34 is contrary to his right to raise motions as set forth by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 1969 (Rev.). The Government concedes rule 34 established a condition precedent to appellant’s right to raise motions and is inconsistent with a procedural rule set forth in the Manual. We agree.

Article 36(a), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 836(a), empowers the President to pre[141]*141scribe rules of procedure for cases before courts-martial. Pursuant thereto he has promulgated the Manual. His authority in that regard is limited only by the requirement that the rules be consistent with the Constitution or other laws. United States v. Worley, 19 U.S.C.M.A. 444, 42 C.M.R. 46 (1970); United States v. Merritt, 1 U.S.C.M.A. 56, 1 C.M.R. 56 (1951). A valid Manual provision, therefore, has the force and effect of law. United States v. Kinane, 1 M.J. 309 (1976); United States v. Montgomery, 20 U.S.C.M.A. 35, 42 C.M.R. 227 (1970).

Paragraph 665, MCM, provides that motions to dismiss are normally made before a plea is entered. Paragraph 67a, MCM, prescribes the following as to a motion to dismiss:

Defenses and objections such as that trial is barred by the statute of limitations, former jeopardy, pardon, constructive condonation of desertion, former punishment, promised immunity, lack of jurisdiction, and failure of the charges to allege an offense should ordinarily be asserted by motion to dismiss before a plea is entered; but failure to assert them at that time does not constitute a waiver of the defense or objection.

Thus, rule 34 is inconsistent with the Manual because it forbids consideration of a motion to dismiss unless the motion is asserted prior to an Article 39(a) session or its untimeliness, according to the rule, is justified.

Article 140, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 940, provides:

The President may delegate any authority vested in him under this chapter, and provide for the subdelegation of any such authority.

Although the Manual contains several provisions as to which the President has permitted supplementation by the Secretary concerned,4 the applicable provision as to when motions must be submitted contains no clause permitting supplementation. We are not informed of, and find no delegation of authority in a different place or forum. Accordingly, we are obliged to conclude there has been no delegation of authority to the Secretary of the Army as to the matter in question. Therefore, not only is rule 34 inconsistent with the Manual but it has not been promulgated by proper authority.5

Although conceding that the Uniform Rules should not be given the status of “binding procedural rules,” the Government submits that they still have force “as advisory guidelines” for a military judge in exercising his inherent or expressed authority to control the trial proceedings. See paragraphs 39 and 53, MCM. Initially, we note that the Uniform Rules deal with various matters from general routine administrative functions to very specific requirements of applicable procedures during trial.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Smith
Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 2024
United States v. Katso
Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 2018
United States v. Wilson
66 M.J. 39 (Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 2008)
United States v. Rozier
41 M.J. 707 (Army Court of Criminal Appeals, 1995)
United States v. Marrie
39 M.J. 993 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1994)
United States v. Summerset
37 M.J. 695 (U.S. Army Court of Military Review, 1993)
United States v. Turner
30 M.J. 1276 (U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review, 1990)
United States v. Machado
29 M.J. 557 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1989)
United States v. Wiggers
25 M.J. 587 (U.S. Army Court of Military Review, 1987)
United States v. Williams
23 M.J. 362 (United States Court of Military Appeals, 1987)
United States v. Slubowski
7 M.J. 461 (United States Court of Military Appeals, 1979)
United States v. Johnson
3 M.J. 772 (U.S. Army Court of Military Review, 1977)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
3 M.J. 139, 1977 CMA LEXIS 9840, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-kelson-cma-1977.