In capital cases they also render the sentance or may refer the decision to the judge for a lower sentence.
[4] The charges are brought forward by an officer called a "convening authority",[5] who also selects the members who try the accused.
[7] Defendants facing general or special courts-martial are represented free of charge from judge advocates acting as defense counsel.
[9] While not required by Congressional law, service policy provides that, at summary courts-martial, many military accused receive representation from a judge advocate defense counsel free of charge.
[12] The convening authority chooses "such members of the armed forces as, in his opinion, are best qualified for the duty by reason of age, education, training, experience, length of service, and judicial temperament.