SCOTUS was asked to rule on the proper appointment of a judge in the appeal phase. The verdict (guilty, 2 years brig, dishonorable discharge) was not in question before the court.
SCOTUS ruled on a “process” question and returned the appeal back to the CCA FOR READJUDication using the properly appointed members.
Upshot for Ortiz? Delaying the inevitable.
Still, no precedent for appealing a UCMJ verdict to the SCOTUS...BUT...review is established. That’s where future arguments will hang their vagaries on, when a case presents itself.
Cletus, perhaps we are conflating courts martial with military tribunals - two different things - for two different purposes. Similar process to a point, but with far, far less review/appeal authority as the defendants are enemy combatants instead of citizens or lawful enlistees.