§ 31-2A-60 — (Article 60.) Action by the Convening Authority

Alabama § 31-2A-60

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 31: Military Affairs and Civil Defense
• Ch. 2A: Military Justice
• Part IX: Post-Trial Procedure and Review of Courts-Martial

Text

(a) The findings and sentence of a court-martial shall be reported promptly to the convening authority after the announcement of the sentence.
(b)(1) The accused may submit to the convening authority matters for consideration by the convening authority with respect to the findings and the sentence. Any submission shall be in writing. Except in a summary court-martial case, a submission shall be made within 10 days after the accused has been given an authenticated record of trial and, if applicable, the recommendation of a judge advocate under subsection (d). In a summary court-martial case, such a submission shall be made within seven days after the sentence is announced.
(2) If the accused shows that additional time is required for the accused to submit such matters, the convening authority or other person taking action under this article, for good cause, may extend the applicable period under subdivision (1) for up to an additional 60 days as determined by the convening authority or person taking action under this article.
(3) In a summary court-martial case, the accused shall be promptly provided a copy of the record of trial for use in preparing a submission authorized by subdivision (1).
(4) The accused may waive the right to make a submission to the convening authority under subdivision (1). A waiver must be made in writing and may not be revoked. For the purposes of subdivision (c)(2), the time within which the accused may make a submission under this subsection shall be deemed to have expired upon the submission of such a waiver to the convening authority.
(c)(1) The authority under this article to modify the findings and sentence of a court-martial is a matter of command prerogative involving the sole discretion of the convening authority. If it is impractical for the convening authority to act, the convening authority shall forward the case to a person exercising general courts-martial jurisdiction who may take action under this article.
(2) Action on the sentence of a court-martial shall be taken by the convening authority or by another person authorized to act under this article. Such action may be taken only after consideration of any matters submitted by the accused under subsection (b) or after the time for submitting such matters expires, whichever is earlier. The convening authority or other person taking such action, in that person’s sole discretion may approve, disapprove, commute, or suspend the sentence in whole or in part.
(3) Action on the findings of a court-martial by the convening authority or other person acting on the sentence is not required. However, such person, in the person’s sole discretion may do any of the following:
a. Dismiss any charge or specification by setting aside a finding of guilty thereto.
b. Change a finding of guilty to a charge or specification to a finding of guilty to an offense that is a lesser included offense of the offense stated in the charge or specification.
c. Set aside a reduction in rank and pay grade, even if the convening authority does not aside, remit, or reduce the confinement adjudged by the court-martial.
(d) Before acting under this article on any general or special court-martial case in which there is a finding of guilt, the convening authority or other person taking action under this article shall obtain and consider the written recommendation of a judge advocate. The convening authority or other person taking action under this article shall refer the record of trial to the judge advocate, and the judge advocate shall use such record in the preparation of the recommendation. The recommendation of the judge advocate shall include such matters as may be prescribed by regulation and shall be served on the accused, who may submit any matter in response under subsection (b). Failure to object in the response to the recommendation or to any matter attached to the recommendation waives the right to object thereto.
(e)(1) The convening authority or other person taking action under this article, in the person’s sole discretion, may order a proceeding in revision or a rehearing.
(2) A proceeding in revision may be ordered if there is an apparent error or omission in the record or if the record shows improper or inconsistent action by a court-martial with respect to the findings or sentence that can be rectified without material prejudice to the substantial rights of the accused. In no case, however, may a proceeding in revision do any of the following:
a. Reconsider a finding of not guilty of any specification or a ruling which amounts to a finding of not guilty.
b. Reconsider a finding of not guilty of any charge, unless there has been a finding of guilty under a specification laid under that charge, which sufficiently alleges a violation of some article of this code.
c. Increase the severity of the sentence unless the sentence prescribed for the offense is mandatory.
(3) A rehearing may be ordered by the convening authority or other person taking action under this article if that person disapproves the findings and sentence and states the reasons for disapproval of the findings. If such person disapproves the findings and sentence and does not order a rehearing, that person shall dismiss the charges. A rehearing as to the findings may not be ordered where there is a lack of sufficient evidence in the record to support the findings. A rehearing as to the sentence may be ordered if the convening authority or other person taking action under this subsection disapproves the sentence.

Legislative History

(Act 2012-334, p. 790, §1.)