convening authority
Meeting-calling official
A convening authority is a military official with the power to order a court-martial and related judicial proceedings.
This person—typically a commanding general or equivalent—decides whether charges go forward, selects panel members, and reviews the outcome: The convening authority dismissed two of the charges before trial.
The term appears primarily in military justice contexts.
- commanding officerMilitary leader of unit
- court-martialArmed forces judicial proceeding
- referralDirecting someone elsewhere
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- tribunalJudicial decision-making body
military tribunal · uniform code · prosecutor · disposition · quorum · board of directors · clemency · adjudicator · general court-martial · summons · chain of command · chairperson · charges · charge sheet · military justice · military law · agenda-setting · facilitator
- Military Justicecourt-martial, court martial, military courts, JAG, military tribunals
- Courts-Martialcourt martial, military court, court proceedings, judge advocate, military justice
- military lawcourt-martial, court martial, military courts, military justice, judge advocate
convening authorityaccused
Charged with wrongdoing
military judge · defendant · trial judge · defense counsel · panel members
convening authorityaccused
Charged with wrongdoing
defendant · subordinate · appellant · respondent · prisoner