10 U.S.C. § 949i: Pleas of the accused

Summary

If someone in a military commission pleads guilty but then says something that doesn't match that plea, seems not to understand it, or refuses to plead, the record must show a not-guilty plea and the commission will treat the case as if a not-guilty plea was entered. If a military judge accepts a guilty plea, the judge can immediately find the person guilty without the members voting. That finding stands unless the guilty plea is withdrawn before the sentence is announced; if withdrawn, the case goes on as if not guilty. An accepted, not-withdrawn guilty plea can be part of a deal to reduce the maximum punishment or avoid seeking death. A judge alone cannot impose death; death needs a unanimous vote by all commission members.

Title 10, §949i

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Plea of Not Guilty.—

If an accused in a military commission under this chapter after a plea of guilty sets up matter inconsistent with the plea, or if it appears that the accused has entered the plea of guilty through lack of understanding of its meaning and effect, or if the accused fails or refuses to plead, a plea of not guilty shall be entered in the record, and the military commission shall proceed as though the accused had pleaded not guilty.

(b)Finding of Guilt After Guilty Plea.—

With respect to any charge or specification to which a plea of guilty has been made by the accused in a military commission under this chapter and accepted by the military judge, including a charge or specification that has been referred capital, a finding of guilty of the charge or specification may be entered by the military judge immediately without a vote by the members. The finding shall constitute the finding of the military commission unless the plea of guilty is withdrawn prior to announcement of the sentence, in which event the proceedings shall continue as though the accused had pleaded not guilty.

(c)Pre-Trial Agreements.—

(1)A plea of guilty made by the accused that is accepted by a military judge under subsection (b) and not withdrawn prior to announcement of the sentence may form the basis for an agreement reducing the maximum sentence approved by the convening authority, including the reduction of a sentence of death to a lesser punishment, or that the case will be referred to a military commission under this chapter without seeking the penalty of death. Such an agreement may provide for terms and conditions in addition to a guilty plea by the accused in order to be effective.

(2)A plea agreement under this subsection may not provide for a sentence of death imposed by a military judge alone. A sentence of death may only be imposed by the unanimous vote of all members of a military commission concurring in the sentence of death as provided in section 949m(b)(2)(D) of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 949i, added Pub. L. 109–366, § 3(a)(1), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2614, related to pleas of the accused, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 111–84.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted a comma for “,,” after “referred capital”. 2011—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–81, § 1030(b)(1), in the first sentence, inserted “, including a charge or specification that has been referred capital,” after “military judge”, “by the military judge” after “may be entered”, and “by the members” after “vote”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–81, § 1030(b)(2), added subsec. (c).

§949i Pleas of the Accused