§839. Art. 39. Sessions

(a) At any time after the service of charges which have been referred for trial to a court-martial composed of a military judge and members, the military judge may, subject to section 835 of this title (article 35), call the court into session without the presence of the members for the purpose of-

(1) hearing and determining motions raising defenses or objections which are capable of determination without trial of the issues raised by a plea of not guilty;

(2) hearing and ruling upon any matter which may be ruled upon by the military judge under this chapter, whether or not the matter is appropriate for later consideration or decision by the members of the court;

(3) if permitted by regulations of the Secretary concerned, holding the arraignment and receiving the pleas of the accused; and

(4) performing any other procedural function which may be performed by the military judge under this chapter or under rules prescribed pursuant to section 836 of this title (article 36) and which does not require the presence of the members of the court.

These proceedings shall be conducted in the presence of the accused, the defense counsel, and the trial counsel and shall be made a part of the record. These proceedings may be conducted notwithstanding the number of members of the court and without regard to section 829 of this title (article 29).

(b) When the members of a court-martial deliberate or vote, only the members may be present. All other proceedings, including any other consultation of the members of the court with counsel or the military judge, shall be made a part of the record and shall be in the presence of the accused, the defense counsel, the trial counsel, and, in cases in which a military judge has been detailed to the court, the military judge.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 51 ; Oct. 24, 1968, Pub. L. 90–632, §2(15), 82 Stat. 1338 ; Nov. 5, 1990, Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title V, §541(a), 104 Stat. 1565 .)

The word "When" is substituted for the word "Whenever". The words "deliberates or votes" are substituted for the words "is to deliberate or vote". The word "may" is substituted for the word "shall". The word "shall" is inserted before the words "be in the presence" for clarity.

Amendments

1990-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–510 inserted at end "These proceedings may be conducted notwithstanding the number of members of the court and without regard to section 829 of this title (article 29)."

1968-Pub. L. 90–632 added subsec. (a), designated existing provisions as subsec. (b), substituted "military judge" for "law officer", and struck out provisions authorizing the court after voting on the findings in a general court-martial to request the law officer and the reporter to appear before the court to put the findings in proper form.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Section 541(e) of Pub. L. 101–510 provided that: "The amendments made by subsections (a) through (d) [amending this section and section 841 of this title] shall apply only to a court-martial convened on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 5, 1990].

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–632 effective first day of tenth month following October 1968, see section 4 of Pub. L. 90–632, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.

Cross References

Consultations by military judge with members of court, see section 826 of this title.

Record of trial, see section 854 of this title.

Voting and rulings, see section 851 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 825, 835 of this title.