Alaska § 26.05.465 - Who may serve on courts-martial.

§ 26.05.465. Who may serve on courts-martial.

 (a) A commissioned officer of the militia of a state or of an active duty component of the armed forces of the United States is eligible to serve on a general, special, or summary court-martial for the trial of a member of the militia.

 (b) A warrant officer of the militia of a state or of an active duty component of the armed forces of the United States is eligible to serve on a general or special court-martial for the trial of any person, other than a commissioned officer.

 (c) An enlisted member of the militia of the state who is not a member of the same unit as the accused is eligible to serve on a general or special court-martial for the trial of an enlisted member, but only if the accused has, before the conclusion of a session of the court-martial called by the military judge, personally requested, orally on the record or in writing, that enlisted members serve on the court-martial.

 (d) After a request is made under (c) of this section, the accused may not be tried by a general or special court-martial unless enlisted members make up at least one-third of the total membership of the court. If eligible enlisted members are not available because of physical conditions or military exigencies, the court may proceed to try the accused without enlisted members, but the convening authority shall place on the record a detailed written explanation of why eligible enlisted members were not available.

 (e) The accused may not be tried by a court-martial that includes a member who is junior in rank or grade to the accused, unless the inclusion cannot be avoided.

 (f) When convening a court-martial, the convening authority shall detail the members of the militia of a state or of an active duty component of the armed forces of the United States who are, in the convening authority's opinion, the best qualified for the duty by reason of age, education, training, experience, length of service, and judicial temperament. A person is not eligible to serve as a member of a general or special court-martial if the person is the accuser, is a witness, or has acted as investigating officer or as counsel in the same case.

 (g) Before a court-martial is assembled for the trial of a case, the convening authority may excuse a member of the court from participating in the case. The convening authority may delegate the authority under this subsection to a judge advocate or to a principal assistant.