What’s the difference between a Special Court-Martial and a General Court-Martial?
Special Courts-Martial are typically utilized for lesser charges where a General is not warranted. Normally their convened where Captain’s Mast/Office Hours is insufficient punishment. Specials are limited in the punishment that can be handed out and would not be used for more serious crimes.
I wrote the charges for a Special where one of the command had been stealing from “girl friends” and their family. Also assisted on several Generals where a group had fought with another sailor off base resulting in the other dying. Everyone in the car went to General as a minimum of accessory to the crime. There’s also a lower level Summary Courts-Martial. Which is further limited and only requires one officer.
So based on charges it can range from Article 15 (Captain’s Mast) Summary CM, Special CM, General CM going from lowest to highest punishment.
Summary’s are 1 officer and limited as well in that only Enlisted can be taken to them and not Officers. No right to attorney. Accused has absolute right to refuse and request higher level.
Specials are not less than 3 officers and a judge, accused can request Judge only.
General is 5 officers and a judge, again accused can request Judge only. Only the General can punish by Death - and then only when specially authorized.