Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Non-Sequitur
While I never served on a court martial I know others who did and they took the assignment very seriously. All they were concerned with was the facts presented in evidence and whether or not prosecution proved their case. I don't expect the officers assigned to LCOL Lakin's court martial will be any different

Well, I never served on a Court Martial panel, but I did serve on a panel in a proceeding that was run just like a Court Martial. I was the junior member of the panel. The senior member was a bird colonel. (O-6).

We asked questions, we looked beyond the raw evidence, and looked to larger issues. Mainly in setting the punishment recomendation. The factual issues were pretty much stipulated. We considered not just what the Airman "deserved" but also what was in the best interest of the command and the Air Force.

I expect these officers will be no different.

Yes the judge will be an officer, a JAG officer. But he/she will have no where near the power that a civilian trial judge has.

238 posted on 04/09/2010 10:27:40 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 158 | View Replies ]


To: El Gato
Yes the judge will be an officer, a JAG officer. But he/she will have no where near the power that a civilian trial judge has.

Yeah, acutally, he will. A General Court Martial is run very much along the lines of a civilian criminal court. The members of the court martial board act as jury, unless LCOL Lakin decides he wants the judge alone to decide his fate. One major difference is that the verdict doesn't have to be unanimous. It only takes 2/3rd to convict.

290 posted on 04/10/2010 5:43:12 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 238 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson