A court-martial is the military’s judicial process for prosecuting service members who violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). It’s similar to a civilian criminal trial, but with procedures and rules specific to the military justice system.

There are three types of courts-martial:

1. Summary Court-Martial: Handles minor offenses with less severe penalties.
2. Special Court-Martial: Similar to a civilian misdemeanor court; intermediate-level offenses are tried here.
3. General Court-Martial: Reserved for serious offenses, comparable to felony courts in civilian systems, with severe penalties like confinement and dishonorable discharge