Rule 17 . En banc proceedings

(a) A majority of the judges present for duty may order that any appeal or other proceeding be considered or reconsidered, except as indicated in section (c) below, by the Court sitting as a whole. Such consideration or reconsideration ordinarily will not be ordered except (1) when consideration by the full Court is necessary to secure or maintain uniformity of decision, or (2) when the proceedings involve a question of exceptional importance, or (3) when a sentence being reviewed pursuant to Article 66 extends to death.

(b) A party may suggest the appropriateness of consideration or reconsideration by the Court as a whole. If a party desires to suggest in cases being reviewed pursuant to Article 66, that a matter be considered initially by the Court as a whole, the suggestion must be filed with the Court within 5 days after the government files its answer to the assignment of errors, or the accused files a reply if permitted to do so under Rule 15(b). In other proceedings the suggestion must be filed with the party's initial petition or other initial pleading, or within 5 days after the response thereto is filed. A suggestion for reconsideration by the Court as a whole must be made within the time prescribed by Rule 19 for filing a motion for reconsideration. No response to the suggestion may be filed unless the Court shall so order.

(c) The suggestion of a party for consideration or reconsideration by the Court as a whole shall be transmitted to each judge of the Court who is present for duty, but a vote need not be taken to determine whether the cause shall be considered or reconsidered by the Court as a whole unless a judge requests a vote on such a suggestion made by a party. En banc reconsideration of an en banc decision will not be held unless one member of the original majority concurs in a vote for reconsideration.