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- Point in Time (01/01/1992)
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Version Superseded: 01/02/1991
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Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 04 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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An Act to consolidate the Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1951 and the enactments amending it, including so much of the Administration of Justice Act 1960 as provides an appeal from the Courts-Martial Appeal Court to the House of Lords.
[8th May 1968]
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Act: Power to amend conferred (prosp.) by 2001 c. 19, ss. 30(4)(e), 39(2)
C2Words of enactment omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), s. 3
C3Act amended (women's services) by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55, SIF 7:1), s. 20, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1
Commencement Information
I1Act wholly in force at 1.9.1968 see s. 61(1)
(1)The Courts-Martial Appeal Court established by the M1Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1951 for the purpose of hearing appeals from naval, army and air force courts-martial, shall continue in existence and is in this Act referred to either as “the Appeal Court” or as “the Court”.
(2)The Appeal Court shall be a superior court of record and shall, for the purposes of this Act and subject to its provisions, have full power to determine, in accordance with this Act, any question necessary to be determined for the purpose of doing justice in any case before the Court.
(3)The powers of the Appeal Court shall be exercisable by them so far as they think it necessary or expedient in the interests of justice that they should be exercised, and the Court may issue any warrants necessary for enforcing their orders or sentences.
(4)Except as provided by Part III of this Act, no appeal shall lie from any decision of the Appeal Court.
Marginal Citations
(1)The following shall be judges of the Appeal Court:—
(a)the ex officio and ordinary judges of the Court of Appeal and such of the judges . . . F1of the High Court as the Lord Chief Justice may, . . . F1, from time to time nominate for the purpose;
(b)such of the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary as the Lord Justice General may from time to time nominate for the purpose; and
(c)such of the judges of Her Majesty’s Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland as the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland may from time to time nominate for the purpose.
(2)The Lord Chancellor may appoint other persons, being persons of legal experience, to be judges of the Appeal Court and—
(a)the appointment of a person under this subsection shall be for such term as may be determined by the Lord Chancellor, with the approval of the Treasury, before his appointment and shall be subject to such conditions as may be so determined; and
(b)a person so appointed who ceases to hold office as a judge of the Appeal Court shall be eligible for reappointment.
(3)There may be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament to the persons appointed under subsection (2) of this section to be judges of the Appeal Court such remuneration, and to all the judges of the Court such travelling and subsistence allowances, as the Lord Chancellor may, with the approval of the Treasury, determine.
Textual Amendments
F1Words repealed by Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54, SIF 37), ss. 145(2), 152(4), 153(4)(d), Sch. 7
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C4Functions of Treasury under s. 2 now exercisable by Minister for the Civil Service: S.I. 1971/2099
Any power under this Act which is exercisable by a judge of the Appeal Court may also be exercised—
(a)by any judge . . . F2of the High Court;
(b)by any Lord Commissioner of Justiciary;
(c)by any judge of Her Majesty’s Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland,
notwithstanding that he is not for the time being a judge of the Appeal Court; and references in this Act to a judge of the Court shall be construed accordingly.
Textual Amendments
F2Words repealed by Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54, SIF 37), ss. 145(3), 152(4), 153(4)(d), Sch. 7
(1)For the purpose of hearing and determining appeals under this Act, or any matter preliminary or incidental to an appeal, the Appeal Court shall be summoned in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chief Justice with the consent of the Lord Chancellor.
(2)If the Lord Chief Justice so directs, the Appeal Court may sit in two or more divisions.
(3)The Appeal Court shall sit at such place as the Lord Chief Justice shall direct, whether within or outside the United Kingdom.
(1)Subject to subsection (4) below, the Appeal Court shall be duly constituted if it consists of an uneven number of judges not less than three.
(2)Where—
(a)part of any proceedings before the Appeal Court has been heard by an uneven number of judges greater than three; and
(b)one or more members of the Court as constituted for the purpose of those proceedings are unable to continue,
then, subject to subsection (4) below, the Court shall remain duly constituted for the purpose of those proceedings so long as the number of members (whether even or uneven) is not reduced to less than three.
(3)Subject to subsection (4) below, the Appeal Court shall, if it consists of two judges, be duly constituted for every purpose except—
(a)determining an appeal against—
(i)conviction; or
(ii)a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity; or
(iii)a finding of unfitness to stand trial;
(b)determining an application for leave to appeal to the House of Lords; and
(c)refusing an application for leave to appeal to the Appeal Court against conviction or any such finding as is mentioned in paragraph (a)(ii) or (iii), other than an application which has been refused by a single judge.
(4)At least one of the judges of which the Appeal Court consists at any sitting must be a judge of the Court by virtue of section 2(1) of this Act, except that where the Court is directed to sit at a place outside the United Kingdom the Lord Chancellor may, if he thinks it expedient to do so, direct that this provision shall not apply to the Court while sitting at that place.
(5)Where an appeal has been heard by the Appeal Court and the Court as constituted for that purpose consists of an even number of judges, then, if those judges are equally divided, the case shall be re-argued before and determined by an uneven number of judges not less than three.]
Textual Amendments
F3S. 5 substituted by Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54, SIF 37), ss. 145(4), 153(4)(d)
The Master of the Rolls may exercise the powers conferred on the Lord Chief Justice by sections 2 and 4 above if at any time the Lord Chief Justice is unable to exercise them himself or there is a vacancy in the office of Lord Chief Justice.
(1)There shall be a registrar of the Appeal Court (in this Act referred to as “the registrar”) to be appointed by the Lord Chancellor, and the Lord Chancellor may appoint such other officers and servants of the Court as he may, with the approval of the Treasury as to numbers, determine.
(2)The remuneration of the officers and servants of the Appeal Court shall be such as the Lord Chancellor may, with the approval of the Treasury, determine, and [F4the principal civil service pension scheme within the meaning of section 2 of the M2Superannuation Act 1972 and for the time being in force shall, with the necessary adaptations, apply to officers and servants of the Court as it applies to other persons employed in the civil service of the State].
(3)The remuneration of the officers and servants of the Appeal Court and such other expenses of the Court as the Treasury may sanction shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament.
Textual Amendments
F4Words substituted by Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11), Sch. 6 para. 70
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C5Functions of Treasury under s. 7 now exercisable by Minister for the Civil Service: S.I. 1971/2099
Marginal Citations
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person convicted by court-martial may, with the leave of the Appeal Court, appeal to the Court against his conviction [F5and, if he was a civilian (as defined in subsection (5) below) both at the time of his conviction and when the offence was committed, may also with the leave of the Court appeal against his sentence, unless it is one fixed by law].
[F6(1A)An appeal may also be brought, with the leave of the Appeal Court,—
(a)by a person convicted by a court-martial, against an order under paragraph F7 . . ., 10 or 11 of Schedule 5A to the Army Act, Schedule 5A to the Air Force Act or Schedule 4A to the Naval Discipline Act (F7 . . ., custodial orders and compensation orders), and
(b)by a person on whom a fine is imposed or against whom a compensation order is made under paragraph 13 of any of those Schedules (parents and guardians subject to service jurisdiction).]
(2)Subject as aforesaid, the person’s right of appeal shall not be exercisable—
(a)unless, within such period as may be prescribed, he presents to the Defence Council a petition praying that his conviction be quashed [F8or, as the case may require, that his sentence be quashed or (if a sentence of a naval court-martial) annulled]; and
(b)until either the prescribed period (beginning with the day on which the petition is presented) expires or he is notified by the Defence Council that the petition has not been granted, whichever event first occurs.
(3)If a person presents a petition for the purposes of subsection (2)(a) above, but fails to do so within the period prescribed for those purposes and subsequently applies for leave to appeal, the Appeal Court may direct that he be treated as not having thereby lost his right of appeal if they think that there is a reasonable explanation of the failure and that it is in the interests of justice that he should be so treated.
(4)Rules of court may provide that, in such circumstances as may be specified in the rules, a petition for the purposes of subsection (1) above which is presented to such person as may be specified in the rules shall be treated, for the purposes of that subsection, as having been presented to the Defence Council.
[F9(5)In this section "civilian’ means any person who is not subject to service law (meaning military law, air-force law and the Naval Discipline Act) and any person within section 208A or 209 of the Army Act, section 208A or 209 of the Air Force Act or section 117 or 118 of the Naval Discipline Act (which apply certain provisions of those Acts to passengers in Her Majesty’s ships and aircraft, persons employed by or accompanying Her Majesty’s forces, families of members of those forces etc.).]
Textual Amendments
F5Words added by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 73(2)(a)
F6S. 8(1A) added by Armed Forces Act 1976 (c. 52, SIF 7:1),s. 22(5), Sch. 9 para. 16
F7Words in s. 8(1A)(a) repealed (1.1.1992) by Armed Forces Act 1991 (c. 62, SIF 7:1), s. 26(2), Sch. 3, S.I. 1991/2719, art. 3,Sch.
F8Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(2)
F9S. 8(5) added by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 73(2)(b)
(1)Leave to appeal to the Appeal Court shall not be given except on an application in that behalf made by or on behalf of the appellant and lodged, within the prescribed period, with the registrar.
(2)The application must be in the prescribed form and specify the grounds on which leave to appeal is sought and such other particulars, if any, as may be prescribed.
(3)The Appeal Court may extend the period within which an application for leave to appeal must be lodged, whether the period has expired or not.
(4)Rules of court may provide that, in such circumstances as may be specified in the rules, an application which is lodged with a person (other than the registrar) specified in the rules shall be treated for purposes of subsection (1) above as having been lodged with the registrar; and it shall be the duty of the specified person, if an application is lodged with him in accordance with the rules, to act as follows:—
(a)he shall forward the application to the registrar with as much expedition as practicable; and
(b)if it appears to him practicable to do so, and in all the circumstances expedient, he shall forthwith furnish the registrar (before the receipt by the latter of the application) with such particulars of the application as will enable the registrar to prepare a copy of it.
(1)The following provisions apply where a person who has been convicted by a court-martial held outside the United Kingdom duly petitions the Defence Council in accordance with section 8 of this Act.
(2)If, before the expiration of the time for appealing, the Defence Council receive from the person convicted an application for leave to appeal to the Appeal Court accompanied by a request that the Council will forward the application to the registrar in the event of its being decided not to grant the petition, it shall be the duty of the Council to comply with that request.
(3)The convicted person’s right of appeal under section 8 of this Act becomes exercisable (if it has not already done so) on the happening of the event referred to in subsection (2) above, that is to say its being decided not to grant the petition.
(4)In this section “the time for appealing” means the period prescribed for the purpose of section 9(1) of this Act as the period within which an application for leave to appeal must be lodged.
(1)In considering whether or not to give leave to appeal the Appeal Court shall have regard to any expression of opinion made by the Judge Advocate of Her Majesty’s Fleet or the Judge Advocate General that the case is a fit one for appeal, and if any such expression is so made they may, without more, give leave to appeal.
(2)Where the Appeal Court dismiss an application for leave to appeal they may, if they consider the application to have been frivolous or vexatious, order that any sentence passed upon the applicant in the proceedings from which it was sought to bring the appeal shall begin to run from the day on which the Appeal Court dismiss the application.
(1)The Appeal Court shall allow an appeal against conviction by court-martial if they think—
(a)that the finding of the court-martial under all the circumstances of the case is unsafe or unsatisfactory; or
(b)that the finding involves a wrong decision of a question of law; or
(c)that there was a material irregularity in the course of the trial,
and in any other case shall dismiss the appeal:
Provided that the Court may, notwithstanding that they are of the opinion that the point raised in the appeal might be decided in favour of the appellant, dismiss the appeal if they consider that no miscarriage of justice has actually occurred.
(2)If the Appeal Court allow an appeal against conviction, they shall quash the conviction.
Where—
(a)it appears to the Appeal Court [F10on an appeal against conviction] that an appellant, though not properly convicted on some charge preferred against him before the court-martial by which he was tried, was properly convicted on some other charge so preferred; and
(b)the sentence passed by the court-martial on the appellant was not warranted by the relevant Service Act for the offence of which he was convicted on the other charge,
the Court shall pass on the appellant, in substitution for the sentence passed on him by the court-martial, such sentence so warranted as they think proper.
Textual Amendments
F10Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(3)
(1)This section applies where an appellant has been convicted of an offence and the court-martial by which he was tried could lawfully have found him guilty of some other offence, and it appears to the Appeal Court [F11on an appeal against conviction] that the court-martial must have been satisfied of facts which proved him guilty of that other offence.
(2)The Appeal Court may, instead of allowing or dismissing the appeal, substitute for the finding of the court-martial a finding of guilty of the other offence, and may pass on the appellant, in substitution for the sentence passed on him by the court-martial, such sentence as they think proper, being a sentence warranted by the relevant Service Act for that other offence, but not a sentence of greater severity.
Textual Amendments
F11Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(3)
(1)Where an appellant has been convicted of an offence committed under circumstances involving the higher of two degrees of punishment, and it appears to the Appeal Court [F12on an appeal against conviction] that the court-martial by which he was tried ought to have found him guilty of the offence as being committed under circumstances involving the lower degree of punishment, the Court may, instead of allowing or dismissing the appeal, substitute for the finding of the court-martial a finding of guilty of the offence as being committed under circumstances involving the lower degree of punishment.
(2)Where an appellant has been convicted of an offence and it appears to the Appeal Court [F12on an appeal against conviction] that the court-martial by which he was tried ought to have found him guilty of the offence subject to exceptions or variations, the Court may, instead of allowing or dismissing the appeal, substitute for the finding of the court-martial a finding of guilty of the offence subject to exceptions or variations.
(3)Where the Appeal Court exercise the power conferred by subsection (1) or subsection (2) above, they may pass on the appellant, in substitution for the sentence passed on him by the court-martial, such sentence as they think proper, being a sentence warranted by the relevant Service Act for the offence specified or involved in the substituted finding, but not a sentence of greater severity.
Textual Amendments
F12Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(3)
(1)This section applies in a case where, on an appeal [F13against conviction], the Appeal Court are of opinion—
(a)that the proper finding would have been a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity; or
(b)that the case is not one where there should have been a finding of not guilty, but that there should have been a finding that the accused was unfit to stand his trial.
(2)The Appeal Court shall order the appellant to be kept in custody under the relevant Service enactment in like manner as on a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity or a finding of unfitness to stand trial by the court-martial by which the appellant was convicted.
(3)In subsection (2) above, the “relevant Service enactment” means—
section 63 of the M3Naval Discipline Act;
section 116 of the M4Army Act; or
section 116 of the M5Air Force Act,
(being enactments which provide for a person to be kept in custody until the pleasure of Her Majesty is made known), according to whether the appellant was convicted by a naval, army or air force court-martial.
Textual Amendments
F13Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(4)
Marginal Citations
On an appeal against sentence the Appeal Court, if they consider that the sentence is not appropriate for the case, may quash the sentence and pass in substitution for it such sentence as they think is appropriate, being a sentence which the court-martial had power to pass and which is not of greater severity than that for which it is substituted.]
Textual Amendments
F14S. 16A added by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), s. 73(3)
(1)The term of any sentence passed by the Appeal Court under section 13, 14 [F1515 or 16A] of this Act shall, unless the Court otherwise direct, begin to run from the time from which it would have begun to run if it had been passed in the proceedings from which the appeal was brought.
(2)A sentence passed by the Appeal Court under any of those sections shall—
(a)if passed on an appeal against conviction by a [F16or the sentence of]a naval court-martial, be deemed, for purposes of the M6Naval Discipline Act, to be a sentence passed by such a court-martial; and
(b)if passed on an appeal against conviction by [F16or the sentence of]an army or air force court-martial, be deemed for purposes of the M7Army Act or the M8Air Force Act, as the case may be, to be a sentence passed by an army, or as the case may be, an air force court-martial, being a sentence that has been confirmed.
Textual Amendments
F15Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(5)
F16Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(5)
Marginal Citations
Any reference to a sentence in section 13, 14, 15, 16A or 17 above includes a reference to an order under Schedule 5A to the Army Act, Schedule 5A to the Air Force Act or Schedule 4A to the Naval Discipline Act, but the exercise of the power conferred by sections 13, 14, 15 and 16A above shall be subject to the restrictions contained in paragraph 15 of each of those Schedules.]
Textual Amendments
Except as provided by this Act, where the conviction of a person by court-martial for an offence has been quashed under this Act, he shall not be liable to be tried again for that offence by a court-martial or by any other court.
(1)The Appeal Court shall have the power, on quashing a conviction, to make an order authorising the appellant to be retried by court-martial, but shall only exercise this power when F18 . . . it appears to the Court that the interests of justice require that an order under this section should be made.
(2)This section has effect notwithstanding the restrictions on retrial imposed by section 134 of the Army Act and section 134 of the M9Air Force M10Act.
(3)An appellant shall not be retried under this section for an offence other than—
(a)the offence of which he was convicted by the original court-martial and in respect of which his appeal is allowed as mentioned in subsection (1) above;
(b)any offence of which he could have been convicted at the original court-martial on a charge of the first-mentioned offence; or
(c)any offence charged in the alternative in respect of which the court-martial recorded no finding in consequence of convicting him of the first-mentioned offence.
(4)A person who is to be retried under this section for an offence shall, if the Appeal Court so directs, be retried on a fresh charge or charges specified in the direction; but whether he is so tried or is retried on one or more of the original charges, no fresh investigation or other steps shall be taken under sections 76 to 79 of the Army Act or sections 76 to 79 of the Air Force Act (investigation and summary disposal of charge by commanding officer) in relation to the charge or charges on which he is to be retried.
Textual Amendments
F18Words in s. 19(1) repealed (01.01.1992) by Armed Forces Act 1991 (c. 62, SIF 7:1), ss. 26(1)(2), 27(2), Sch. 2 para. 8, Sch. 3, S.I. 1991/2719, arts. 2, 3(3), Sch.
Marginal Citations
(1)The limitations imposed by—
section 52 of the M11Naval Discipline Act;
section 132 of the Army Act; and
section 132 of the Air Force Act,
with respect to the time within which a trial under those Acts respectively may be begun, shall not apply in the case of a retrial authorised by an order of the Appeal Court under section 19 of this Act; but a person to whom such an order applies shall not be retried unless the order convening the court-martial is issued within the period of three months beginning with the date of the order under section 19.
(2)The Appeal Court may, where they authorise a retrial, make such orders as appear to them to be necessary or expedient for the retention until the relevant time of property or money which has been restored, delivered or paid in pursuance of an order made on or in consequence of the original conviction or has been placed in safe custody while the operation of any such order is suspended.
(3)Where retrial is authorised in the case of a person who immediately before the date of the authorisation was liable to be detained in pursuance of a direction under United Kingdom mental health legislation, that direction shall continue in force until the relevant time as if his conviction had not been quashed.
(4)The legislation referred to in subsection (3) above is [F19Part III of the Mental Health Act 1983], [F20Part VI of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984]and Part III of the Mental Health [F21(Northern Ireland) Order 1986].
(5)In subsections (2) and (3) above the references to “the relevant time” are references to the expiration of the period of three months mentioned in subsection (1) of this section or, if during that period a court-martial has been convened for the retrial of an appellant, the time when his case is finally disposed of:
Provided that for the purposes of subsection (2) above the relevant time, in a case where the appellant is found guilty on his retrial, is the expiration of the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date of the finding.
(6)Schedule 1 to this Act contains additional provisions applicable to a retrial authorised by order of the Appeal Court under section 19 of this Act; and of the four Parts of the Schedule, Part I applies to retrial under the M12Naval Discipline Act; Part II applies to retrial under the Army Act; Part III applies to retrial under the M13Air Force M14Act; and Part IV applies to all three cases.
Textual Amendments
F19Words substituted by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), s. 148, Sch. 4 para. 24(a)
F20Words substituted by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), s. 127(1), Sch. 3 para. 10
F21Words substituted by S.I. 1986/596, art. 6(a)
Marginal Citations
(1)A person who has been tried by court-martial for an offence and been found not guilty by reason of insanity may, with the leave of the Appeal Court, appeal to the Court against the finding; and in relation to any such appeal this Part of this Act, except sections 13 to 16, shall apply, subject to this section and section 22 below, as it applies in relation to an appeal by a person convicted against his conviction (with the necessary adaptations of references to a person convicted or to conviction).
(2)Where apart from this subsection—
(a)an appeal against a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity would fall to be allowed; and
(b)none of the grounds for allowing it relates to the question of the insanity of the appellant,
the Appeal Court may dismiss the appeal if they are of opinion that but for the insanity of the appellant the proper finding would have been that he was guilty of an offence other than the offence charged.
(1)The following provisions shall have effect where an appeal against a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity is allowed by the Appeal Court.
(2)If the ground, or one of the grounds, for allowing the appeal is that the finding as to the appellant’s insanity ought not to stand and the Appeal Court are of opinion that the proper finding would have been a finding of guilty of an offence (whether the offence charged or any other offence of which the court-martial could have found him guilty), the Court shall substitute for the finding of the court-martial a finding of guilty of that offence.
(3)On substituting a finding of guilty of an offence, the Appeal Court shall have the like powers of sentencing the appellant, and other powers, as the court-martial which tried him would have had on the like finding of guilty; and section 17 of this Act shall apply as in the case of a sentence passed by the Court under section 13, 14 or 15 of this Act.
(4)In any case where subsection (2) above does not apply, the Appeal Court shall substitute for the finding appealed against a finding of not guilty.
(1)The following provisions shall have effect in the case of an appeal by a person who, in pursuance of a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity, is detained under—
(a)[F22section 46 of the Mental Health Act 1983]; or
(b)[F23section 69 of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984]; or
[F24(c)Article 52 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986;]
(which sections relate to orders for a person to be kept in custody during Her Majesty’s pleasure), where the Appeal Court under section 22 of this Act substitute a finding of not guilty.
(2)If the Appeal Court are of opinion—
(a)that the person is suffering from mental disorder (within the meaning of [F25the Mental Health Act 1983]) of a nature or degree which warrants his [F26detention in a hospital for assessment (or for assessment followed by medical treatment)]for at least a limited period; and
(b)that he ought to be so detained in the interests of his own health or safety or with a view to the protection of other persons,
they shall make an order for his continued detention under the said Act [F27or Order].
(3)An order under subsection (2) above shall be sufficient authority for the person to be detained, and the said Act [F28or Order]shall apply as if on the date of the order he had been admitted to hospital in pursuance of an application duly made under that Act [F28or Order](being in England and Wales an application for [F29admission for assessment]).
Textual Amendments
F22Words substituted by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), s. 148, Sch. 4 para. 24(b)
F23Words substituted by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), s. 127(1), Sch. 3 para. 11
F24S. 23(1)(c) substituted by S.I. 1986/596, art. 6(b)
F25Words substituted by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), s. 148, Sch. 4 para. 24(b)
F26Words substituted by Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982 (c. 51, SIF 85), ss. 65(1), 69(6), Sch. 3 para. 43(a), Sch. 5 para. 1
F27Words added by S.I. 1986/596, art. 6(c)
F28Words inserted by S.I. 1986/596, art. 6(d)
F29Words substituted by Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982 (c. 51, SIF 85), ss. 65(1), 69(6), Sch. 3 para. 43(b), Sch. 5 para. 1
Prospective
(1)This section applies where, in accordance with section 22(4) of this Act, the Appeal Court substitute a finding of not guilty and the Court, on the written or oral evidence of two or more registered medical practitioners at least one of whom is duly approved, are of opinion—
(a)that the appellant is suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in a hospital for assessment (or for assessment followed by medical treatment) for at least a limited period; and
(b)that he ought to be so detained in the interests of his own health or safety or with a view to the protection of other persons.
(2)The Appeal Court shall—
(a)in the case of an appellant detained pursuant to an admission order made by a court-martial, make an order for his continued detention;
(b)in any other case, make an order that the appellant be admitted for assessment, in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State, to such hospital as may be specified by the Secretary of State.
(3)An order under subsection (2) above shall be treated as if it had been made by a civil court in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, as the Appeal Court may direct, and the appropriate mental health legislation shall apply accordingly with such modifications as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(4)The power of the Secretary of State under subsections (2)(b) and (3) above to make regulations shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(5)In this section “hospital” and “mental disorder” have the same meanings as in the appropriate mental health legislation.
Textual Amendments
F30Ss. 23 and 23A substituted (prosp.) for s. 23 by 1996 c. 46, ss. 8, 36(2), Sch. 2 para. 9
(1)A person found by a court-martial to be unfit to stand his trial may, with the leave of the Appeal Court, appeal to the Court against the finding.
(2)In relation to an appeal under this section, this Part of this Act, except sections 13 to 16, shall apply (subject to section 25 below) as it applies in relation to an appeal by a person convicted against his conviction (with the necessary adaptations of references to a person convicted or to conviction).
(1)The following provisions of this section apply with respect to an appeal under section 24 of this Act.
(2)Where the question whether the accused was unfit to stand his trial was determined by the court-martial at a time later than on arraignment or, in the case of a naval court-martial, later than on the commencement of the trial, the appeal may be allowed (notwithstanding that the finding was properly come to) if the Appeal Court are of opinion that the case is one in which the court-martial should before that time have come to a finding of not guilty.
(3)If the Appeal Court are of the said opinion, they shall substitute a finding of not guilty (but not a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity) and the appellant shall then not be liable to be tried by a court-martial or by any other court for the offence with which he was charged.
(4)Where the appeal is allowed and the Appeal Court do not substitute a finding of not guilty, the appellant may be tried accordingly for the said offence; and if he is for the time being detained under [F31the Mental Health Act 1983], the [F32Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984]or the Mental Health [F33(Northern Ireland) Order 1986], the Court may make such order as appears to them necessary or expedient pending any such trial for his continued detention under that Act [F34or Order].
Textual Amendments
F31Words substituted by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), s. 148, Sch. 4 para. 24(c)
F32Words substituted by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), s. 127(1), Sch. 3 para. 12
F33Words substituted by S.I. 1986/596, art. 6(a)
F34Words added by S.I. 1986/596, art. 6(c)
An appellant may, if he so desires, instead of presenting his case orally, present it in writing in the prescribed form.
An appellant shall not be entitled to be present at the hearing of an appeal to the Appeal Court or at any proceedings preliminary or incidental to such an appeal, except where the Court give him leave to be so; and accordingly any power of the Court to pass a sentence may be exercised notwithstanding the absence of the appellant.
(1)The Appeal Court may—
(a)order the production of any document, exhibit or other thing connected with the proceedings the production of which appears to them necessary for the determination of the case;
(b)order any witness who would have been a compellable witness at the trial to attend for examination and be examined before the Court, whether or not he was called at the trial; and
(c)receive the evidence, if tendered, of any witness.
(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, where evidence is tendered to the Appeal Court under that subsection the Court shall, unless they are satisfied that the evidence if received would not afford any ground for allowing the appeal, exercise their power under that subsection of receiving it if—
(a)it appears to them that the evidence is likely to be credible and would have been admissible at the trial on an issue which is the subject of the appeal; and
(b)they are satisfied that it was not adduced at the trial, but that there is a reasonable explanation of the failure to adduce it.
(3)Subsection (1)(c) above applies to any witness (including the appellant) who is competent but not compellable, and applies also to the appellant’s husband or wife where the appellant makes an application for that purpose and the evidence of the husband or wife could not have been given at the trial except on such an application.
(4)The Appeal Court may order the examination of any witness whose attendance may be required under subsection (1)(b) of this section to be conducted in the prescribed manner before any judge of the Court or before any other person appointed by the Court for that purpose, and allow the admission of any depositions so taken as evidence before the Court.
(1)The Appeal Court may order the taking of such steps as are requisite to obtain from any member of the court-martial by which the appellant was tried, or the person who officiated as judge advocate at the trial, a report giving his opinion on the case or on any point arising in it, or containing a statement as to any facts of which the ascertainment appears to the Court to be material for the purpose of determining the case.
(2)The Court shall not make an order under this section for the purpose of obtaining a report from a member of a court-martial other than the president of it unless they also make such order for the purpose of obtaining a report from the president or are satisfied that the obtaining of a report from him is impracticable or would involve undue delay.
(1)Where any question arising on an appeal involves prolonged examination of documents or accounts, or any scientific or local investigation, which cannot in the opinion of the Appeal Court conveniently be conducted before them, the Court may order the reference of the question in the prescribed manner for inquiry and report to a special commissioner appointed by them, and act upon the report of the commissioner so far as they think fit to adopt it.
(2)The Appeal Court may appoint a person with special expert knowledge to act as assessor to the Court in any case where it appears to them that such knowledge is required for the proper determination of the case.
(3)There may be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament to a special commissioner to whom a question is referred under this section for inquiry and report, and to a person appointed as assessor to the Appeal Court, such remuneration and such travelling and subsistence allowances as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Lord Chancellor.
(4)The power of the Lord Chancellor under subsection (3) above to make regulations shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(1)Where the Appeal Court allow an appeal [F35other than an appeal against sentence] they may if they think fit, direct the payment by the Secretary of State of costs to the appellant.
(2)The costs which may under this section be directed to be paid are such sums as appear to the Appeal Court reasonably sufficient to compensate the appellant for any expenses properly incurred by him in the case that is to say—
(a)in the prosecution of his appeal (including any proceedings preliminary or incidental thereto); or
(b)in carrying on his defence before the court-martial from which the appeal lies, or before any other court-martial before which were begun, but not concluded, proceedings for the offence with which he was charged before the first-mentioned court-martial.
Textual Amendments
F35Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(6)
(1)Where the Appeal Court dismiss an appeal or an application for leave to appeal they may, if they think fit, order the appellant or applicant (as the case may be) to pay to the Secretary of State the whole or any part of the costs of the appeal or application, including the costs of copying or transcribing any documents for the use of the Appeal Court.
(2)An order under this section may be enforced—
[F36(a)in the same manner as an order for costs made by the criminal division of the Court of Appeal under section 25 of the M15Criminal Appeal Act 1968; or]
(b)by making deductions from pay due to the appellant or applicant, as the case may be,
or partly in the one way and partly in the other.
(3)Any sums which by virtue of subsection (2)(a) above are recovered from a person by the Secretary of State shall be paid into the Exchequer.
Extent Information
E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only.
Textual Amendments
F36S. 32(2)(a) substituted (E.W.) (S.) by Administration of Justice Act 1970 (c. 31), s. 41(7)
Marginal Citations
(1)Where the Appeal Court dismiss an appeal or an application for leave to appeal they may, if they think fit, order the appellant or applicant (as the case may be) to pay to the Secretary of State the whole or any part of the costs of the appeal or application, including the costs of copying or transcribing any documents for the use of the Appeal Court.
(2)An order under this section may be enforced—
(a)in the same manner as an order for the payment of costs made by the High Court in civil proceedings; or
(b)by making deductions from pay due to the appellant or applicant, as the case may be,
or partly in the one way and partly in the other.
(3)Any sums which by virtue of subsection (2)(a) above are recovered from a person by the Secretary of State shall be paid into the Exchequer.
Extent Information
E2This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only.
(1)The Appeal Court may, whether or not they exercise their powers under either of the two foregoing sections, order the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of such sums as appear to the Court reasonably sufficient to compensate any person properly attending to give evidence on an appeal under this Part of this Act or any proceedings preliminary or incidental thereto (whether or not he gives evidence) for the expense, trouble or loss of time properly incurred in or incidental to his attendance.
(2)The amount of any costs ordered to be paid under this section shall be ascertained as soon as practicable by the registrar.
Without prejudice to section 31 above, where an appellant who is not in custody appears before the Appeal Court either on the hearing of his appeal or in any preliminary or incidental proceedings, the Appeal Court may direct the Secretary of State to pay him the expenses of his appearance.]
Textual Amendments
F37S. 33A added by Administration of Justice Act 1977 (c. 38, SIF 37), s. 5(1)
(1)If, in the case of the conviction of a person by court-martial,—
(a)it appears to the Judge Advocate of Her Majesty’s Fleet or the Judge Advocate General that the finding of the court-martial involves a point of law of exceptional importance which in his opinion should be determined by the Appeal Court; or
(b)it appears to the Secretary of State, upon consideration of matters appearing to him not to have been brought to the notice of the court-martial at the trial, to be expedient that the finding of the court-martial should be considered or reconsidered by the Appeal Court,
the Judge Advocate of Her Majesty’s Fleet, the Judge Advocate General or the Secretary of State, as the case may be, may refer the finding to the Court.
(2)A reference to the Appeal Court under [F38subsection (1) above] shall, for all purposes [F39other than that of section 32] of this Act, be treated as an appeal by the person convicted against his conviction.
(3)The foregoing provisions of this section shall apply in the case of a finding by a court-martial of not guilty by reason of insanity as they apply in the case of the conviction of a person by court-martial.
[F40(4)Where a person convicted by court-martial is a civilian as defined in section 8(5) of this Act, the Secretary of State may, if consideration thereof by the Appeal Court appears to him for any reason desirable, refer the sentence of the court-martial to the Court; and any such reference shall be treated as an appeal by the person convicted against sentence for all purposes except those of section 32 of this Act.]
Textual Amendments
F38Words substituted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(7)
F39Words substituted by Administration of Justice Act 1977 (c. 38, SIF 37), s. 5(2)
Textual Amendments
F41S. 35repealed by Administration of Justice Act 1977 (c. 38, SIF 37), ss. 5(3), 32, Sch. 5 Pt. VI
(1)The following powers of the Appeal Court under this Part of this Act, that is to say the power—
(a)to give a direction under section 8(3) that a person be treated as not having lost his right of appeal;
(b)to give leave to appeal;
(c)to extend the period within which an application for leave to appeal must be lodged;
(d)to make orders under section 20(2) and discharge or revoke such orders;
(e)to allow an appellant to be present at any proceedings;
(f)to order witnesses to attend for examination; and
(g)to make an order under section 32 for the payment of costs,
[F42and the power to give directions under section 4(4) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976 as adapted by section 5(1)(d) of that Act]may be exercised by any judge of the Appeal Court in the same manner as they may be exercised by the Court, and subject to the same provisions.
(2)If the judge refuses an application on the part of an appellant to exercise in his favour any of the powers mentioned in subsection (1) above (other than the power to make an order for the payment of costs), the appellant, upon making a requisition in that behalf within the prescribed period and in the prescribed form and manner, shall be entitled to have the application determined by the Appeal Court as duly constituted [F43for the purpose in accordance with section 5 of this Act].
Textual Amendments
F42Words inserted (E.W.) (and (S.N.I.) so far as relating to Courts-Martial and the Courts-Martial Appeal Court) by Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976 (c. 82, SIF 39:1), s. 5(6)
F43Words substituted by Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54, SIF 37), ss. 145(5), 153(4)(d)
Valid from 01/10/1996
(1)The following powers of the Appeal Court under this Part of this Act, namely the power—
(a)to extend the time within which notice of appeal or of application for leave to appeal may be given; and
(b)to order a witness to attend for examination,
may be exercised by the registrar in the same manner as they may be exercised by the Court and subject to the same restrictions.
(2)If the registrar refuses an application on the part of an appellant to exercise in his favour any power specified in subsection (1) above, the appellant shall be entitled to have the application determined by any judge of the Appeal Court.]
Textual Amendments
F44S. 36A inserted (1.10. 1996 with savings) by 1996 c. 46, s. 18; S.I. 1996/2474, art. 2 (with art. 3)
(1)In the case of every appeal or application for leave to appeal to the Appeal Court from a naval court-martial it shall be the duty of the Defence Council to furnish to the registrar, in accordance with rules of court, the proceedings of the court-martial and any petition presented by the person tried thereby.
(2)In the case of every appeal or application for leave to appeal from an army or air force court-martial, it shall be the duty of the Judge Advocate General to furnish to the registrar, in accordance with rules of court, the proceedings of the court-martial (including any proceedings with respect to the revision of the finding of the court-martial in pursuance of section 109 of the Army Act or section 109 of the M16Air Force M17Act, as the case may be), the proceedings with respect to the confirmation of the finding and sentence of the court-martial and any petition presented by the person tried thereby.
(1)Any person who in a certificate tendered under paragraph 8 of Schedule 3 to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (computer records) in evidence before the Appeal Court makes a statement which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true shall be guilty of an offence and liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both;
(b)on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.
(2)Proceedings for an offence under this section committed outside the United Kingdom may be taken, and the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed, in any place in the United Kingdom.
(3)In this section “statutory maximum” has the meaning given by section 74 of the Criminal Justice Act M181982.]
Textual Amendments
F45S. 37A inserted by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119, Sch. 6 para. 34
Marginal Citations
It shall be the duty of the Defence Council to undertake the defence of any appeal to the Appeal Court under this Part of this Act.
(1)An appeal lies to the House of Lords, at the instance of the accused or the Defence Council, from any decision of the Appeal Court on an appeal to them under Part II of this Act, whether given by them when sitting within or outside the United Kingdom.
(2)The appeal lies only with the leave of the Appeal Court or the House of Lords; and such leave shall not be granted unless it is certified by the Appeal Court that a point of law of general public importance is involved in the decision and it appears to the Court or the House of Lords, as the case may be, that the point is one which ought to be considered by that House.
(1)An application to the Appeal Court for leave to appeal to the House of Lords shall be made within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date of the decision of the Court; and an application to the House of Lords for leave shall be made within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date on which the application is refused by the Appeal Court.
(2)The House of Lords or the Appeal Court may, upon application made at any time by the accused, extend the time within which an application may be made by him to that House or the Court under subsection (1) above.
(3)An appeal shall be treated as pending until any application for leave to appeal is disposed of and, if leave to appeal is granted, until the appeal is disposed of; and for purposes of this Part of this Act an application for leave to appeal shall be treated as disposed of at the expiration of the time within which it may be made, if it is not made within that time.
(1)An appeal under this Part of this Act shall not be heard and determined by the House of Lords unless there are present not less than three of the persons designated Lords of Appeal by section 5 of the M19Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876.
(2)Any order of the House of Lords which provides for the hearing of applications for leave to appeal by a committee constituted in accordance with section 5 of the said Act of 1876 may direct that the decision of that committee shall be taken on behalf of the House.
(3)For the purpose of disposing of an appeal under this Part of this Act, the House of Lords may exercise any powers of the Appeal Court or may remit the case to the Court.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C6S. 41(1) applied (prosp.) by 1955 c. 18, s. 113C(4) (as inserted (prosp.) by 2001 c. 19, ss. 21(1), 39(2))
S. 41(1) applied (prosp.) by 1955 c. 19, s. 113C(4) (as inserted (prosp.) by 2001 c. 19, s. 21(1), 39(2))
S. 41(1) applied (prosp.) by 1957 c. 53, s. 71AC(4) (as inserted (prosp.) by 2001 c. 19, s. 21(2), 39(2))
Marginal Citations
(1)When a person to whom this section applies appeals, or applies for leave to appeal, to the House of Lords from a decision of the Appeal Court, the Court shall have power to grant him bail pending the appeal.
(2)This section applies to any person who—
(a)not being subject to the M20Naval Discipline Act, nor to military law nor to air force law, is liable by virtue of that Act, or the Army Act or the M21Air Force M22Act, to be tried as if he were so subject; or
(b)is subject to the Naval Discipline Act by virtue only of section 119(1) of it (sentenced offenders).
(1)Where the accused would, but for the decision of the Appeal Court, be liable to be detained, and immediately after that decision the Defence Council are granted, or give notice that they intend to apply for, leave to appeal, the Appeal Court may make an order providing for the detention of the accused or directing that he shall not be released except on bail (which may, in the case of a person to whom section 42 of this Act applies, be granted as under that section) so long as any appeal to the House of Lords is pending.
(2)An order under this section shall (unless the appeal has been previously disposed of) cease to have effect at the expiration of the period for which the accused would have been liable to be detained but for the decision of the Appeal Court.
(3)An order made under this section for the detention of a person who, but for the decision of the Appeal Court, would be liable to be detained in pursuance of an order or direction under United Kingdom mental health legislation shall be an order authorising his continued detention in pursuance of that order or direction; and the relevant provisions of that legislation with respect to persons liable to be detained thereunder (including provisions as to the renewal of authority for detention and the removal or discharge of patients) shall apply accordingly.
(4)The legislation referred to in subsection (3) above is [F46Part III of the Mental Health Act 1983] the [F47Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984]and the Mental Health [F48(Northern Ireland) Order 1986].
(5)Where the Appeal Court has power to make an order under this section, and either no such order is made or the accused is released or discharged by virtue of subsection (2) or (3) above before the appeal is disposed of, the accused shall not be liable to be again detained as a result of the decision of the House of Lords on the appeal.
Textual Amendments
F46Words substituted by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), s. 148, Sch. 4 para. 24(a)
F47Words substituted by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), s. 127(1), Sch. 3 para. 13
F48Words substituted by S.I. 1986/596, art. 6(a)
Where the accused is detained pending an appeal from the Appeal Court to the House of Lords, he shall not be entitled to be present on the hearing of the appeal or of any proceedings preliminary or incidental thereto unless an order of the House of Lords authorises him to be present, or that House or the Appeal Court give him leave to be present.
(1)Subject to this section, any sentence passed on an appeal from the Appeal Court to the House of Lords in substitution for another sentence shall, unless the House of Lords or the Appeal Court otherwise direct, begin to run from the time when that other sentence would have begun to run.
(2)Where under this Part of this Act a person subject to a sentence is [F49granted]bail pending an appeal, the time during which he is [F49released on bail]shall be disregarded in computing the term of his sentence.
Textual Amendments
F49Words substituted by Bail Act 1976 (c. 63, SIF 39:1), s. 12, Sch. 2 para. 46
(1)Where the operation of an order for the restitution of property, being an order made under—
section 76 of the M23Naval Discipline Act;
section 138 of the M24Army Act; or
section 138 of the M25Air Force Act,
(which sections apply when persons are convicted by court-martial of theft or other offences against property), is suspended until the determination of an appeal to the Appeal Court, the following subsections apply.
(2)If the conviction is not quashed on appeal, the operation of the order shall continue to be suspended—
(a)in any case, until the expiration of the time within which an application for leave to appeal to the House of Lords may be made (disregarding any extension of time which may be granted under section 40 of this Act); and
(b)if such an application is made within that time, so long as the appeal to the House of Lords is pending.
(3)Where the operation of an order is suspended under this section,—
(a)the order shall not take effect if the conviction is quashed on appeal to the House of Lords;
(b)such steps shall be taken for the safe custody of the property in question during the period during which the operation of the order is suspended as may be prescribed.
(4)Where by reason of the quashing by the Appeal Court of a person’s conviction an order to which subsection (1) of this section applies does not take effect and on appeal to the House of Lords the conviction is restored by the House, the House may make any order for the restitution of property which could be made on his conviction by the court-martial which convicted him or, in the case of an appeal relating to a conviction under the M26Naval Discipline Act, by the Defence Council.
(1)Where the Appeal Court or the House of Lords dismiss an application for leave to appeal to that House and the application was made by the Secretary of State, the Court or the House may direct the payment by the Secretary of State of such sums as appear to the Court or the House to be reasonably sufficient to compensate the accused for any expenses properly incurred by him in resisting the application.
(2)Where the Appeal Court or the House of Lords dismiss an application for leave to appeal to that House and the application was made by the accused, the Court or the House may make the like order as may be made by the Court under section 32(1) of this Act where they dismiss an application for leave to appeal to the Court; and any order made under this subsection may be enforced in the manner described in section 32(2) of this Act.
(3)[F50On determining an appeal from the Appeal Court], the House of Lords may, if they think fit, direct the payment by the Secretary of State of such sums as appear to the House to be reasonably sufficient to compensate the accused for any expenses properly incurred by him in the case up to and including the appeal, that is to say—
(a)in the appeal to the House of Lords;
(b)in the prosecution of his appeal to the Appeal Court (including any proceedings preliminary or incidental thereto); and
(c)in carrying on his defence before the court-martial by which he was convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity or unfit to stand his trial, or before any other court-martial before which were begun, but not concluded, proceedings for the offence with which he was charged before the court-martial by which he was convicted or so found, as the case may be.
(4)Except as provided by the foregoing provisions of this section, no costs shall be allowed on the hearing or determination of an appeal from the Appeal Court to the House of Lords, or of any proceedings preliminary or incidental to such an appeal.
Textual Amendments
F50Words substituted by Administration of Justice Act 1977 (c. 38, SIF 37), s. 5(4)
The following powers of the Appeal Court under this Part of this Act, that is to say the power—
(a)to extend the time for making an application for leave to appeal;
(b)to make an order for or in relation to bail; and
(c)to give leave to be present at the hearing of any proceedings preliminary or incidental to an appeal,
may be exercised by any judge of the Court; but where the judge refuses an application to exercise any of the said powers, the applicant shall be entitled to have the application determined by the Appeal Court.
Valid from 01/10/1996
(1)Where a person has died—
(a)any relevant appeal which might have been begun by him had he remained alive may be begun by a person approved by the Appeal Court; and
(b)where any relevant appeal was begun by him while he was alive or is begun in relation to his case by virtue of paragraph (a) above, any further step which might have been taken by him in connection with the appeal if he were alive may be taken by a person so approved.
(2)In this section “relevant appeal” means—
(a)an appeal under section 8, 21 or 24 of this Act; or
(b)an appeal under section 39 of this Act from any decision of the Appeal Court on an appeal under any of those sections.
(3)Approval for the purposes of this section may only be given to—
(a)the widow or widower of the dead person;
(b)a personal representative of the dead person; or
(c)any other person appearing to the Court of Appeal to have, by reason of a family or similar relationship with the dead person, a substantial financial or other interest in the determination of a relevant appeal relating to him.
(4)An application for such approval may not be made after the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of death.
(5)Where this section applies, any reference in this Act to the appellant shall, where appropriate, be construed as being or including a reference to the person approved under this section.
(6)The power of the Appeal Court to approve a person under this section may be exercised by any judge of the Appeal Court in the same manner as by the Court and subject to the same provisions; but if the judge refuses the application, the applicant shall be entitled to have the application determined by the Appeal Court.
(7)In subsection (3)(b) above “personal representative” means—
(a)for England and Wales, a person who is a personal representative within the meaning of section 55(1)(xi) of the M27Administration of Estates Act 1925;
(b)for Scotland, an executor confirmed to the estate of the dead person; or
(c)for Northern Ireland, a person who is one of the personal representatives within the meaning of the M28Administration of Estates Act (Northern Ireland) 1955.]
Textual Amendments
F51S. 48A inserted (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 46, s. 19; S.I. 1996/2474, art. 2(with art. 3)
Marginal Citations
(1)Rules of court made by the Lord Chief Justice with the approval of the Lord Chancellor may provide for regulating the procedure and practice to be followed in the Appeal Court and for any other matters which by this Act are expressed to be subjects for rules of court.
(2)Rules of court made for the purposes of any provision of this Act may make different provision in relation to different classes of cases and may provide for any incidental or supplementary matters for which it appears to the Lord Chief Justice to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of that provision to provide.
(3)The power under this section to make rules of court shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, and the M29Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to a statutory instrument containing rules of court made under this section in like manner as if the rules had been made by a Minister of the Crown.
(4)A statutory instrument containing rules of court made under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Marginal Citations
(1)The registrar shall take all necessary steps for obtaining the determination of an appeal or application under this Act, and shall obtain and lay before the Appeal Court in proper form all documents, exhibits and other things relating to the proceedings in the court-martial by which the appellant or applicant was tried which appear necessary for the proper determination of the appeal or application.
(2)The registrar shall furnish the necessary forms and instructions relating to applications for leave to appeal under this Act to any person who demands them, to persons in charge of places where persons sentenced by court-martial may lawfully be confined for the purpose of serving their sentences and to such other persons as he thinks fit.
(3)Every person in charge of such a place as is referred to in subsection (2) above shall cause the said forms and instructions to be placed at the disposal of persons confined in that place who wish to apply for leave to appeal to the Appeal Court, or from that Court to the House of Lords.
Textual Amendments
F52S. 51 repealed (1.10.1968) on coming into force of Pt. IV of Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80) by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (c. 20), s. 51(8)
Rules or regulations made under—
(a)section 79 or 82 of the M30Naval Discipline Act;
(b)section 121 or 122 of the M31Army Act;
(c)section 121 or 122 of the M32Air Force Act;
(d)section 47 of the M33Prison Act 1952;
[X1(e)section 35 of the M34Prisons (Scotland) Act 1952; or]
[F53(e)section 39 of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989; or]
(f)section 13 of the M35Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953
may provide in what manner an appellant, when in custody, is to be taken to, kept in custody at, and brought back from any place at which he is entitled to be present for purposes of Part II or Part III of this Act or any place to which the Appeal Court or a judge of it may order him to be taken for the purpose of any proceedings of the Court.
Editorial Information
X1S. 52(e) beginning “section 39" substituted (S.) for S. 52(e) beginning “section 35" by Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 45(1), Sch. 2 para. 10
Textual Amendments
F53S. 52(e) beginning “section 39" substituted (S.) for S. 52(e) beginning “section 35" by Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 (c. 45, SIF 39:1), s. 45(1), Sch. 2 para. 10
Marginal Citations
(1)Part II of this Act confers no right of appeal against the conviction by a naval court-martial of a person who, at the time of the conviction, was borne on the books of a ship of the Royal Australian Navy or the Royal New Zealand Navy, not being a ship which at that time was placed at the disposal of the Defence Council.
(2)Section 34 of this Act does not apply in the case of such a conviction as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.
(1)Nothing in this Act is to be taken as affecting any right of Her Majesty, by virtue of Her Royal prerogative or otherwise, to quash a conviction by court-martial, so far as regards the exercise thereof at a time before whichever of the following two events first occurs—
(a)the receipt by the registrar of an application for leave to appeal under Part II of this Act against the conviction; or
(b)the receipt by him of particulars of such an application furnished in pursuance of section 9 of this Act.
(2)Nothing in this Act is to be taken as affecting Her Majesty’s Royal prerogative of mercy.
Schedule 2 to this Act has effect so as to modify certain provisions of this Act in relation to cases involving sentence of death; and any provision of this Act which is referred to in that Schedule and modified or restricted thereby shall have effect subject to the Schedule.
Schedule 3 to this Act has effect so as to modify certain provisions of this Act in relation to protected prisoners of war within the meaning of the M36Geneva Conventions Act 1957; and any provision of this Act which is referred to in that Schedule and modified or restricted thereby shall have effect subject to the Schedule.
Marginal Citations
(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
“the Air Force Act” means the M37Air Force Act 1955;
“air force court-martial” means a court-martial under the Air Force Act;
“appellant” includes a person who has been tried by court-martial and wishes to appeal under Part II of this Act to the Appeal Court;
“the Army Act” means the M38Army Act 1955;
“army court-martial” means a court-martial under the Army Act;
“court-martial” means a naval, army or air force court-martial;
“enactment” includes an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland;
“the Judge Advocate General” means the Advocate General or Judge Martial of all Her Majesty’s regular, auxiliary and reserve land and air forces;
“the Lord Chief Justice” means the Lord Chief Justice of England;
“M39Naval Discipline Act 1957;
” means the“
” means a court-martial under the Naval Discipline Act, and includes a disciplinary court;“prescribed” means prescribed by rules of court; and
“the registrar” means the registrar of the Appeal Court.
(2)Where in connection with any proceedings or powers of the Appeal Court on appeal a provision of this Act refers to “the relevant Service Act", it is to be taken as referring to the Act under which the appellant was tried by court-martial, that is to say the M40Naval Discipline M41Act, the Army Act or the M42Air Force M43Act, as the case may be.
(3)In Part III of this Act “the accused” means, in relation to an appeal from the Appeal Court to the House of Lords, the person who was the accused in the court-martial proceedings from which the appeal lay to the Appeal Court.
(4)Any reference in this Act to another enactment is a reference thereto as amended by or under any other enactment, including this Act.
(5)Any reference in this Act to an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland includes a reference to an enactment corresponding thereto and for the time being in force in Northern Ireland.
Marginal Citations
The enactments specified in Schedule 4 to this Act shall be amended as shown in that Schedule.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C7The text of ss. 58, 60, Sch. 6 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any repeals or amendments which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991
The transitional provisions set out in Schedule 5 to this Act shall have effect.
The enactments specified in the second column of Schedule 6 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C8The text of ss. 58, 60, Sch. 6 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any repeals or amendments which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991
(1)This Act may be cited as the courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968.
(2)This Act shall come into force on the day appointed under section 106(5) of the M44Criminal Justice Act 1967 for the coming into force of section 98 of that Act.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C9Section 98 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 came into force 1.9.1968 by S.I. 1968/325
Marginal Citations
Section 20.
1U.K.On the retrial of any person under section 19 of this Act, the record of the evidence given by any witness at the original trial may, with the leave of the court-martial, be read as evidence—
(a)by agreement between the prosecution and the defence; or
(b)if the court-martial is satisfied that the witness is dead or unfit to give evidence or to attend for that purpose, or that all reasonable efforts to find him or secure his attendance have been made without success or that owing to the exigencies of the service it is not practicable for him to attend as aforesaid,
and may be so read without further proof [F54if it forms part of the original proceedings of the original court-martial or a copy thereof and those proceedings are, or that copy is, admissible as evidence under section 129C of the M45Naval Discipline Act].
2U.K.Where a person authorised to be retried is again convicted on the retrial, the court-martial by which he is convicted may pass in respect of the offence any sentence authorised by the M46Naval Discipline Act, not being a sentence of greater severity than that passed on the original conviction.
Marginal Citations
3U.K.On the retrial of a person under section 19 of this Act, the record of the evidence given by any witness at the original trial may, with the leave of the court-martial, be read as evidence—
(a)by agreement between the prosecution and the defence; or
(b)if the court-martial is satisfied that the witness is dead or unfit to give evidence or to attend for that purpose, or that all reasonable efforts to find him or secure his attendance have been made without success or that owing to the exigencies of the service it is not practicable for him to attend as aforesaid,
and may be so read without further proof if it forms part of the original proceedings of the original court-martial or a copy thereof and those proceedings are, or that copy is, admissible as evidence under section 200 of the M47Army Act.
Marginal Citations
4U.K.Where a person authorised to be retried is again convicted on the retrial, the court-martial by which he is convicted may pass in respect of the offence any sentence authorised by the M48Army Act, not being a sentence of greater severity than that passed on the original conviction.
Marginal Citations
5U.K.On the retrial of a person under section 19 of this Act, the record of the evidence given by any witness at the original trial may, with the leave of the court-martial, be read as evidence—
(a)by agreement between the prosecution and the defence; or
(b)if the court-martial is satisfied that the witness is dead or unfit to give evidence or to attend for that purpose, or that all reasonable efforts to find him or secure his attendance have been made without success or that owing to the exigencies of the service it is not practicable for him to attend as aforesaid,
and may be so read without further proof if it forms part of the original proceedings of the original court-martial or a copy thereof and those proceedings are, or that copy is, admissible as evidence under section 200 of the M49Air Force Act.
Marginal Citations
6U.K.Where a person authorised to be retried is again convicted on the retrial, the court-martial by which he is convicted may pass in respect of the offence any sentence authorised by the M50Air Force Act, not being a sentence of greater severity than that passed on the original conviction.
Marginal Citations
7U.K.Where a person authorised under section 19 of this Act to be retried is convicted on retrial and sentenced to imprisonment or detention, there shall be taken into account in calculating the period for which he is liable to imprisonment or to be detained in pursuance of that sentence—
(a)any time before the original conviction was quashed which would have been taken into account in calculating the period for which he would have been liable to be imprisoned or detained in pursuance of a sentence of imprisonment or detention imposed at the original trial; and
(b)any time after the quashing of his original conviction which he has spent under close arrest awaiting retrial.
Section 55.
1(1)In the case of a conviction involving sentence of death, the right of appeal [F55against conviction and any right of appeal against sentence] conferred by section 8(1) of this Act on the person convicted shall be exercisable without his being required to present a petition to the Defence Council; and accordingly in such a case subsection (2) of that section shall not apply.U.K.
(2)In the case of such a conviction, the power of the Appeal Court under section 9(3) of this Act to extend the period within which an application for leave to appeal must be lodged shall not be exercisable.
Textual Amendments
F55Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(8)(a)
2(1)The following shall apply where a conviction by court-martial involves sentence of death.U.K.
(2)The sentence shall not in any case be executed until the expiration of the period for appealing under Part II of this Act (that is to say the period prescribed under section 9 as the period within which an application for leave to appeal must be lodged).
(3)Subject to the following paragraph, if such an application is duly lodged, the sentence shall not be executed until either the application is finally refused, or it is withdrawn, or the appeal is determined or abandoned.
3(1)Where sentence of death passed on a person on active service by an army or air force court-martial is confirmed, and the authority confirming the sentence certifies that it is essential in the interests of discipline and for the purpose of securing the safety of the force with which that person is present that the sentence should be carried out forthwith, paragraph 2 above shall not apply to the sentence.
(2)In sub-paragraph (1) above the expression “on active service”—
(a)in relation to a person subject to military law, has the meaning assigned to it by section 224 of the M51Army Act; and
(b)in relation to a person subject to the M52Air Force Act, has the meaning assigned to it by section 222 of that Act;
and a person who is deemed for the purposes of either of those Acts to be on active service shall be deemed also for the purposes of this paragraph to be on active service.
4U.K.Any appeal to the Appeal Court against a conviction involving sentence of death [F56or against such a sentence itself] and any application for leave to appeal to the Court against any such conviction [F56or sentence] shall be heard and determined with as much expedition as practicable.
Textual Amendments
F56Words inserted by Armed Forces Act 1971 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 1(8)(b)
5U.K.The Appeal Court shall not have power, by virtue of section 22 of this Act, to impose sentence of death; and where apart from this paragraph a sentence of death would be required by law, the sentence shall (whatever the circumstances) be one of imprisonment for life.
6U.K.In a case involving sentence of death the power of the House of Lords or the Court under section 40 of this Act to extend the time within which an application by the accused for leave to appeal may be made under that section shall not be exercisable.
7(1)Where, in a case involving sentence of death, an appeal to the Appeal Court is dismissed, the sentence shall not in any case be executed until after the expiration of the time within which an application for leave to appeal to the House of Lords may be made; and, if such an application is duly made, the sentence shall not be executed while that application, and any appeal for which leave is granted thereon, is pending.U.K.
(2)In such a case, any application for leave to appeal to the House of Lords and any appeal for which leave is granted on such an application, shall be heard and determined with as much expedition as is practicable.
Section 56.
1In this Schedule “protected prisoner of war” means a person protected by the convention set out in Schedule 3 to the M53Geneva Conventions Act 1957; and “Royal Warrant” means a Royal Warrant governing the maintenance of discipline among prisoners of war.
Marginal Citations
2U.K.In relation to a protected prisoner of war, this Act shall have effect as if the expression “army court-martial” included a prisoner of war court-martial constituted under a Royal Warrant.
3U.K.In relation to a protected prisoner of war this Act shall have effect as if a reference to a Royal Warrant were substituted—
(a)for any reference in section 13, 14 or 15 to the relevant Service Act;
(b)for the reference in section 16(2) to the relevant Service enactment;
(c)for the reference in section 17(2)(b) to the M54Army Act; and
(d)for the reference in section 37(2) to the enactment relating to the revision of the finding or sentence of an army court-martial.
Marginal Citations
4U.K.Paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 2 to this Act shall not have effect in relation to a protected prisoner of war.
Section 58.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C10The text of Sch. 4 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and, except as specified, does not reflect any repeals or amendments which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991
Section 113U.K.In subsection (3), for the words “paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 4 of the words M55 courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1951" there shall be substituted the words “section 9(4)(b)of the M56courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968".
After section 113 there shall be inserted the following section—
113A(1)The following provisions of the courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968, that is to say,—
section 19,
section 20, and
Parts II and IV of Schedule 1,
(power of courts-martial Appeal Court to authorise retrial and supplementary provisions applicable when the power is exercised) shall apply with any necessary modifications in relation to the review by Her Majesty or the Defence Council under section 113 of this Act of the findings of a court-martial, as they apply in relation to an appeal to the courts-martial Appeal Court.
Any document purporting to be an order or direction made or given by virtue of the foregoing subsection by the Defence Council shall be evidence of the making of the order or the giving of the direction, as the case may be, and of its contents”.
Section 118U.K.In subsection (1), for the words “subsection (7) of section 4 of the M57court-martial (Appeals) Act 1951" there shall be substituted the words “section 11(2) of the M58courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968".
Section 138U.K.In subsction (9), for the words (in paragraph(a)) “Part I of the M59courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1951" there shall be substituted the words “Part II of the M60courts-martial (Appeals) Act1968"; and for the words (in paragraph (e)) “the said Act of 1951" there shall be substituted the words “Part II of the said Act of 1968".
Section 113U.K.In subsecton (3), for the words “paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 4 of the M61courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1951" there shall be substituted the words “section 9(4)(b) of the M62courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968".
After section 113 there shall be inserted the following section—
113A(1)The following provisions of the courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968, that is to say—
section 19,
section 20, and
Parts III and IV of Schedule 1,
(power of courts-martial Appeal Court to authorise retrial and supplementary provisions applicable when the power is exercised) shall apply with any necessary modifications in relation to the review by Her Majesty or the Defence Council under secton 113 of this Act of the findings of a court-martial, as they apply in relation to an appeal to the courts-martial Appeal Court.
(2)Any document purporting to be an order or direction made or given by virtue of the foregoing subsection by the Defence Council shall be evidence of the making of the order or the giving of the direction, as the case may be, and of its contents.”
Section 118U.K.In subsection (1), for the words “Subsection (7) of section 4 of the M63Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1951"there shall be substituted the words “section 11(2) of the M64courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968".
Section 138U.K.In subsection (9), for the words (in paragraph(a)) “Part I of the M65courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1951"there shall be substituted the words “Part II of the M66courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968"; and for the words (in paragraph (e)) “the said Act of 1951" there shall be substituted the words “Part II of the said Act of 1968".
U.K.In subsection (3),for the words “paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 4 of the M67courts-martial (Appeals ) Act 1951" there shall be substituted the words “section 9(4)(b) of the M68courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968".
U.K.At the end of the section there shall be insrted the following section—
71A(1)The following provisions of the courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968, that is to say,—
sectin 19,
section 20, and
Parts I and IV of Schedule 1,
(power of courts-martial Appeal Court to authorise retrial and supplementary provisions applicable when the power is exercised) shall apply with any necessary modificatons in relation to the review by the Defence Council under section 70 of this Act of the findings of a court-martial as they apply in relation to an appeal to the courts-martial Appeal Court.
(2)Any document purporting to be an order or direction made or given by virtue of the foregoing subsection by the Defence Council shall be evidence of the making of the order or the giving of the direction, as the case may be.”
U.K.In subsection (1), for the words (in paragraph (a)) “Part I of the M69courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1951" there shall be substituted the words “Part II of the M70 courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968".
In subsection (1), for the words “the said Act of 1951" there shall be substituted the words “Part II of the said Act of 1968".
U.K.In subsection (1), for the words “subsection (7) of section 4 of the M71 courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1951" there shall be substituted the words “section 11(2) of the M72courts-martial (Appeals) Act 1968".
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F57
Textual Amendments
F57Entry relating to the Mental Health Act 1959 repealed by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), s. 148, Sch. 6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F58
Textual Amendments
F58Entry relating to Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 repealed by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), s. 127(2), Sch. 5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F59
Textual Amendments
F59Entry relating to Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961 repealed by S.I. 1986/596, art. 6(e)
Section 59.
1(1)Any right of appeal subsisting immediately before the commencement of this Act by virtue of an enactment repealed thereby shall after that commencement be treated as subsisting by virtue of the corresponding enactment in this Act.U.K.
(2)Any appeal or application pending before the said commencement under an enactment so repealed may be presented and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of this Act corresponding to those in force immediately before the said commencement and applicable to the appeal or application.
2(1)In so far as any order, appointment, rule or regulation made, petition presented, direction given or other thing done under an enactment repealed by this Act could have been made, presented, given or done under a corresponding provision of this Act, it shall not be invalidated by the repeal of that enactment but shall have effect as if made, presented, given or done under that corresponding provision.U.K.
(2)Any document referring to an enactment repealed by this Act shall, so far as may be necessary for preserving its effect, be construed as referring, or as including a reference, to the corresponding enactment in this Act.
3U.K.The mention of particular matters in this Schedule shall not be taken to affect the general application of section 38 of the M73Interpretation Act 1889 with regard to the effect of repeal
Marginal Citations
Section 60.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C11The text of ss. 58, 60, Sch. 6 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any repeals or amendments which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991
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