Bill Overview
Title: Equal Justice Under Military Law Act
Description: This bill modifies various provisions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including to establish an independent convening authority for general and special courts-martial for certain offenses (e.g., murder or manslaughter).
Sponsors: Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4]
Target Audience
Population: Active duty military personnel worldwide
Estimated Size: 1300000
- The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) governs all aspects of military justice and applies to active duty military personnel.
- This bill specifically addresses court-martial procedures, which are relevant to those who currently serve in the military and may face such proceedings.
- The U.S. Department of Defense reported in recent years having around 1.3 million active-duty service members globally.
- Additional global militaries also have personnel who may be governed by similar military justice systems and could be impacted if they adopt similar provisions.
Reasoning
- Approximately 1.3 million active-duty service members in the U.S. fall under the jurisdiction of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
- The policy's budget is limited, so it would focus on optimizing existing resources rather than expanding the base of affected individuals significantly beyond those in the military.
- While some service members may experience direct effects due to changes in convening authority and court-martial procedures, others who are not currently facing legal proceedings may experience little to no immediate change.
- The policy could improve perceptions of justice and fairness within military ranks, potentially boosting morale and long-term wellbeing even for those indirectly affected.
Simulated Interviews
Navy Officer (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think establishing an independent convening authority is a positive step for fairness.
- Many of us are concerned about biases in how cases are handled, so this could be reassuring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Army Sergeant (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this change will lead to more transparent procedures in military trials.
- It's essential that there's a fair process for everyone involved.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Marine Corps JAG (San Diego, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been advocating for this kind of change for years.
- This will improve trust in the military justice system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Air Force Airman (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't thought much about military legal proceedings.
- Knowing there's an independent authority sounds beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Navy JAG (Pearl Harbor, HI)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act makes the court-martial process more neutral.
- It will likely increase trust among service members.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Army Medic (Honolulu, HI)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't expect to be directly affected by this policy.
- However, knowing justice is impartial is comforting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Air Force Pilot (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having an independent body would have made my past experience smoother.
- This could prevent biased judgments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Military Policy Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- objectively improves military justice process.
- My research supports such reforms extensively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Army Colonel (El Paso, TX)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's about time these changes were made.
- This act should have a positive long-term impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Army Infantry (Fort Lewis, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having independent authority would be reassuring for our rights.
- Justice should be impartial, especially in the military.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $45000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $55000000)
Year 3: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 5: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $45000000)
Year 10: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 100: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Key Considerations
- Implementing independent judicial authorities entails upfront costs related to structure changes and personnel training.
- The UCMJ serves as a crucial legal framework specific to the military, significant adjustments could have both intended legal consequences and unintended organizational impacts.
- Balancing between upholding justice and maintaining operational readiness is critical.