COURTMARTIAL Meaning and
Definition
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Courtmartial is a noun that refers to a military court convened for the trial of members of the armed forces who are accused of violating military law or committing offenses pertaining to their service. It is a legal process within the military justice system that allows for the investigation, prosecution, and judgment of alleged misconduct or criminal behavior by military personnel.
During a court martial, a panel of military officers, known as court members, act as judges and determine the guilt or innocence of the accused. The court members, appointed by the convening authority, listen to the evidence presented by the prosecution and defense, and then deliberate to reach a verdict.
Courts-martial can take different forms, depending on the severity of the offense, and are categorized into three types: summary court-martial, special court-martial, and general court-martial. Summary court-martial handles minor offenses and is comprised of one officer, while special court-martial deals with misdemeanors and more serious military crimes with a panel of three or more officers. General court-martial is reserved for the most serious offenses, such as war crimes, treason, or murder, and consists of a panel of at least five officers.
The sentencing of an individual found guilty in a court-martial varies widely, including punishments ranging from reduction in rank and pay to imprisonment or even the death penalty, in cases where capital punishment is authorized.
Common Misspellings for COURTMARTIAL
- xourtmartial
- vourtmartial
- fourtmartial
- dourtmartial
- ciurtmartial
- ckurtmartial
- clurtmartial
- cpurtmartial
- c0urtmartial
- c9urtmartial
- coyrtmartial
- cohrtmartial
- cojrtmartial
- coirtmartial
- co8rtmartial
- co7rtmartial
- couetmartial
- coudtmartial
- couftmartial
Etymology of COURTMARTIAL
The word "courtmartial" has a French origin. It is derived from the Old French term "cort-martial", which can be broken down into two parts:
- "Cort" or "court", meaning "court" in English. This term represents a place where legal matters are handled, cases are heard, and judgments are made.
- "Martial", derived from the Latin word "martialis", which means "of Mars", the Roman god of war. It relates to military matters, soldiers, or warfare.
Thus, "courtmartial" essentially means a military court or a legal proceeding carried out by military authorities.
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