Article 32 hearing

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An Article 32 hearing is a proceeding under the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice, similar to that of a preliminary hearing or a grand jury proceeding in civilian law. Its name is derived from UCMJ section VII ("Trial Procedure") Article 32, which mandates the hearing.

The UCMJ specifies several different levels of formality with which infractions can be dealt. The most serious is a general court martial. An article 32 hearing is required before a defendant can be referred to a general court martial, in order to determine whether there is enough evidence to merit a general court martial. Offenders in the US military may face nonjudicial punishment, a summary court martial, special court martial, general court martial, or administrative separation. A commanding officer will consult with the command's JAG lawyer for advice on case dispostition, depending on the seriousness of the offenses, the strength or weakness of the case, and the commander's desire for case disposition.