Which court-martial type can adjudicate both capital and non-capital offenses?

The general court-martial is the highest level of military courts and has the jurisdiction to adjudicate both capital offenses, which could result in death, and non-capital offenses, which are lesser crimes. This court is presided over by a military judge and can involve a jury of military personnel.

In contrast, a special court-martial typically handles intermediate offenses and has limited sentencing capabilities, generally not dealing with capital cases. A summary court-martial is designed for minor offenses and does not have the authority to impose severe penalties, and is not equipped to handle capital cases. The informal court-martial is not an official type of court-martial in the military justice system and therefore does not have any legal standing to adjudicate offenses.

The general court-martial’s ability to handle all types of offenses, including capital ones, sets it apart as the only court in the military system with that comprehensive jurisdiction. This distinction makes it a crucial element of military justice, ensuring that serious offenses are addressed appropriately.