Uniform Code of Military Justice is a set of laws that establishes a military justice system in the United States. The laws apply to all members of the U.S. armed forces, whether they are in the United States or anywhere else in the world. Members of reserve units and the National Guard may also be subject to the code. The code prohibits certain conduct as criminal and provides for a system of courts and judges to try military members accused of violating the laws. It also outlines the procedures to be followed in these cases.
The code’s list of crimes includes such offenses as murder, rape, and robbery. It also includes typically military offenses, such as desertion, disobedience of an order, and disrespect to a superior officer. In addition, the code bans any other conduct that may be damaging to good order and discipline or that may bring discredit on the armed forces. Such conduct includes bribery, adultery, and negligent homicide.
The courts outlined by the code include (1) trial courts, called courts-martial; (2) one intermediate appellate court for each branch of the armed forces, called a court of criminal appeals; and (3) a top military appellate court, called the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. These courts are governed by their own rules, which in many cases are very similar to those found in civilian courts.
