Military tribunals are courts established by the military to try members of the military accused of crimes.

The commanding officer of a military unit has the authority to convene a military tribunal to try members of their unit accused of crimes.

A military tribunal is typically composed of a panel of military officers who are appointed by the convening authority.

An accused person in a military tribunal has the right to a speedy trial, the right to be represented by an attorney, the right to confront witnesses, and other rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The standard of proof required for a conviction in a military tribunal is beyond a reasonable doubt.

A military tribunal can impose a variety of punishments, including death, life imprisonment, dishonorable discharge, and other lesser punishments.

The military judge presides over the trial and rules on legal issues, such as the admissibility of evidence and the instructions to the panel of military officers.

The panel of military officers finds the accused person guilty or not guilty and, if the accused person is found guilty, sentences them.

A military tribunal conviction can be appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, which is the highest court in the military justice system.

Military tribunals have been criticized for being unfair to the accused person, too lenient on the accused person, and too expensive.

Arguments in favor of military tribunals include that they are more efficient than civilian courts, more likely to result in a conviction, and better equipped to handle cases involving national security.

Military tribunals were first used during the American Civil War.

The Nuremberg Trials are the most famous military tribunal in history.

The future of military tribunals is uncertain.