§ 5902 — Action by convening authority

(a) Report to convening authority.--The findings and sentence of a court-martial shall be reported promptly to the convening authority after the announcement of the sentence.

(b) Copy of record to accused.--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 subsection (c).

(c) Submission of matters by accused to the convening authority.--The following shall apply to the submission of matters by an accused to the convening authority:

(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 such submission shall be in writing. Except in a summary court-martial case, such a submission shall be made within ten days after the accused has been given an authenticated record of trial and, if applicable, the recommendation of a judge advocate under subsection (g). 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 matters under paragraph (1), the convening authority or other person taking action under this section may, for good cause, extend the applicable period under paragraph (1) for not more than an additional 20 days.

(3) The accused may waive the right to make a submission to the convening authority under paragraph (1). Such a waiver must be made in writing and may not be revoked. The time within which the accused may make a submission under paragraph (1) shall be deemed to have expired upon the submission of a waiver to the convening authority.

(d) Action by the convening authority.--The authority of a convening authority to modify the findings and sentence of a court-martial is a matter of command prerogative and involves the sole discretion of the convening authority. No action is required to be taken by the convening authority. If action is taken by the convening authority, it must consider all matters submitted by the accused. If it is impractical for the convening authority to act, the convening authority shall forward the case to a person exercising general court-martial jurisdiction who may take action under this section.

(e) Actions by authority on sentence.--The authority authorized to take action may:

(1) Approve the sentence in whole or in part.

(2) Disapprove the sentence in whole or in part.

(3) Commute the sentence in whole or in part.

(4) Suspend the sentence in whole or in part.

(f) Action by authority on findings.--The authority authorized to take action may:

(1) Dismiss any charge or specification by setting aside a finding of guilty.

(2) 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.

(g) Recommendation of judge advocate.--Before acting on any general or special court-martial case in which there is a finding of guilt, the convening authority or other person taking action shall obtain and consider the written recommendation of a judge advocate. The convening authority or other authorized party shall refer the record of trial to a 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 by the Governor or department and shall be served on the accused, who may submit any matter in the recommendation to the convening authority under subsection (c). An accused's failure to include any matter in the recommendation or attached to the recommendation in his submission waives his right to object to such matter.

Legislative History

Cross References.Section 5902 is referred to in section 5918 of this title.