2021 US Code
Title 10 - Armed Forces
Subtitle A - General Military Law
Part II - Personnel
Chapter 53 - Miscellaneous Rights and Benefits
Sec. 1044f - Policies with respect to special trial counsel
| 10 U.S.C. § 1044f (2021) |
| §1044f. Policies with respect to special trial counsel |
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(a) Policies Required.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish policies with respect to the appropriate mechanisms and procedures that the Secretaries of the military departments shall establish relating to the activities of special trial counsel, including expected milestones for such Secretaries to fully implement such mechanisms and procedures. The policies shall— (1) provide for the establishment of a dedicated office within each military service from which office the activities of the special trial counsel of the military service concerned shall be supervised and overseen; (2) provide for the appointment of one lead special trial counsel, who shall— (A) be a judge advocate of that service in a grade no lower than O–7, with significant experience in military justice; (B) be responsible for the overall supervision and oversight of the activities of the special trial counsel of that service; and (C) report directly to the Secretary concerned, without intervening authority; (3) ensure that within each office created pursuant to paragraph (1), the special trial counsel and other personnel assigned or detailed to the office— (A) are independent of the military chains of command of both the victims and those accused of covered offenses and any other offenses over which a special trial counsel at any time exercises authority in accordance with section 824a of this title (article 24a); and (B) conduct assigned activities free from unlawful or unauthorized influence or coercion; (4) provide that special trial counsel shall be well-trained, experienced, highly skilled, and competent in handling cases involving covered offenses; and (5) provide that commanders of the victim and the accused in a case involving a covered offense shall have the opportunity to provide input to the special trial counsel regarding case disposition, but that the input is not binding on the special trial counsel. (b) Uniformity.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that any lack of uniformity in the implementation of policies, mechanisms, and procedures established under subsection (a) does not render unconstitutional any such policy, mechanism, or procedure. (c) Military Service Defined.—In this section, the term "military service" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. |
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(Added Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, §532(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1694.) |
| STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE
Section effective on the date that is two years after Dec. 27, 2021, and applicable with respect to offenses that occur after that date, with provisions for delayed effect and applicability if regulations are not prescribed by the President before the date that is two years after Dec. 27, 2021, see section 539C of Pub. L. 117–81, set out as an Effective Date of 2021 Amendment note under section 801 of this title. |
| United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 3, Title 10 - ARMED FORCES |
| Bills and Statutes |
| United States Code |
| Y 1.2/5: |
| Title 10 - ARMED FORCES Subtitle A - General Military Law PART II - PERSONNEL CHAPTER 53 - MISCELLANEOUS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS Sec. 1044f - Policies with respect to special trial counsel |
| section 1044f |
| 2021 |
| January 3, 2022 |
| Yes |
| standard |
| 135 Stat. 1694 |
| Public Law 117-81 |
