Title 10Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§950i Execution of sentence; suspension of sentence

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 47A— - MILITARY COMMISSIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - POST-TRIAL PROCEDURE AND REVIEW OF MILITARY COMMISSIONS › § 950i

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Defense may carry out punishments from military commissions using procedures the Secretary sets. If a commission gives a death sentence, that part cannot be carried out until the President approves it. The President may change the death sentence to a lesser punishment, cancel it, or pause it. No death sentence may be carried out until there is a final legal decision about the case. A decision is final after the U.S. Court of Military Commission Review finishes and either the time to ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has passed without a timely petition and the case is not under review, or after the D.C. Circuit finishes and the Supreme Court either does not get or denies a petition for review or finishes its review. The Secretary of Defense, or the convening authority if different, may suspend any sentence or part of a sentence except a death sentence.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §950i

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Defense is authorized to carry out a sentence imposed by a military commission under this chapter in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary may prescribe.
(b)If the sentence of a military commission under this chapter extends to death, that part of the sentence providing for death may not be executed until approved by the President. In such a case, the President may commute, remit, or suspend the sentence, or any part thereof, as he sees fit.
(c)(1)If the sentence of a military commission under this chapter extends to death, the sentence may not be executed until there is a final judgment as to the legality of the proceedings (and with respect to death, approval under subsection (b)).
(2)A judgment as to legality of proceedings is final for purposes of paragraph (1) when review is completed in accordance with the judgment of the United States Court of Military Commission Review and—
(A)the time for the accused to file a petition for review by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has expired, the accused has not filed a timely petition for such review, and the case is not otherwise under review by the Court of Appeals; or
(B)review is completed in accordance with the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and—
(i)a petition for a writ of certiorari is not timely filed;
(ii)such a petition is denied by the Supreme Court; or
(iii)review is otherwise completed in accordance with the judgment of the Supreme Court.
(d)The Secretary of the Defense, or the convening authority acting on the case (if other than the Secretary), may suspend the execution of any sentence or part thereof in the case, except a sentence of death.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 950i, added Pub. L. 109–366, § 3(a)(1), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2623, related to execution of sentence, procedures for execution of sentence of death, and suspension of sentence prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 111–84.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 950i

Title 10Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73