Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 10 : Section 838


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 838. Art. 38. Duties of trial counsel and defense counsel

      (a) The trial counsel of a general or special court-martial shall
    prosecute in the name of the United States, and shall, under the
    direction of the court, prepare the record of the proceedings.
      (b)(1) The accused has the right to be represented in his defense
    before a general or special court-martial or at an investigation
    under section 832 of this title (article 32) as provided in this
    subsection.
      (2) The accused may be represented by civilian counsel if
    provided by him.
      (3) The accused may be represented - 
        (A) by military counsel detailed under section 827 of this
      title (article 27); or
        (B) by military counsel of his own selection if that counsel is
      reasonably available (as determined under regulations prescribed
      under paragraph (7)).

      (4) If the accused is represented by civilian counsel, military
    counsel detailed or selected under paragraph (3) shall act as
    associate counsel unless excused at the request of the accused.
      (5) Except as provided under paragraph (6), if the accused is
    represented by military counsel of his own selection under
    paragraph (3)(B), any military counsel detailed under paragraph
    (3)(A) shall be excused.
      (6) The accused is not entitled to be represented by more than
    one military counsel. However, the person authorized under
    regulations prescribed under section 827 of this title (article 27)
    to detail counsel, in his sole discretion - 
        (A) may detail additional military counsel as assistant defense
      counsel; and
        (B) if the accused is represented by military counsel of his
      own selection under paragraph (3)(B), may approve a request from
      the accused that military counsel detailed under paragraph (3)(A)
      act as associate defense counsel.

      (7) The Secretary concerned shall, by regulation, define
    "reasonably available" for the purpose of paragraph (3)(B) and
    establish procedures for determining whether the military counsel
    selected by an accused under that paragraph is reasonably
    available. Such regulations may not prescribe any limitation based
    on the reasonable availability of counsel solely on the grounds
    that the counsel selected by the accused is from an armed force
    other than the armed force of which the accused is a member. To the
    maximum extent practicable, such regulations shall establish
    uniform policies among the armed forces while recognizing the
    differences in the circumstances and needs of the various armed
    forces. The Secretary concerned shall submit copies of regulations
    prescribed under this paragraph to the Committee on Armed Services
    of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
    Representatives.
      (c) In any court-martial proceeding resulting in a conviction,
    the defense counsel - 
        (1) may forward the attachment to the record of proceedings a
      brief of such matters as he determines should be considered in
      behalf of the accused on review (including any objection to the
      contents of the record which he considers appropriate);
        (2) may assist the accused in the submission of any matter
      under section 860 of this title (article 60); and
        (3) may take other action authorized by this chapter.

      (d) An assistant trial counsel of a general court-martial may,
    under the direction of the trial counsel or when he is qualified to
    be a trial counsel as required by section 827 of this title
    (article 27), perform any duty imposed by law, regulation, or the
    custom of the service upon the trial counsel of the court. An
    assistant trial counsel of a special court-martial may perform any
    duty of the trial counsel.
      (e) An assistant defense counsel of a general or special
    court-martial may, under the direction of the defense counsel or
    when he is qualified to be the defense counsel as required by
    section 827 of this title (article 27), perform any duty imposed by
    law, regulation, or the custom of the service upon counsel for the
    accused.



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