SecDef: End Commander Authority to Overturn Court-Martial Convictions

Jeff Schogol reports for Air Force Times on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish:

“We have always contended that the more insidious problem is that convening authorities can unilaterally lessen sentences and today’s announcement does not change this,” Parrish said in a statement. “Commanders now have the power to reduce any sentence for any reason or no reason. Under the current proposal of retaining clemency, this will not change.

“For the system to be legitimate — the reporting, investigation and adjudication must be taken completely out of the chain of command if we are to avoid another case like Aviano or the ongoing sexual abuse scandal at Lackland Air Force Base.”

Read the article.