Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968

Right of appeal and initiating procedure U.K.

F1 8 Right of appeal. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person convicted by [F2 the Court Martial] may, with the leave of the Appeal Court, appeal to the Court [F3 —

(a) against his conviction; and

(b) against any sentence (not being a sentence fixed by law) passed on him for the offence for which he was convicted[F4 , whether passed on conviction or in subsequent proceedings].]

[F5 (1ZA) In subsection (1) above, the reference to a sentence fixed by law does not include a reference to an order made under [F6 section 321 of the Sentencing Code] in relation to a life sentence (as defined in [F7 section 324 of that Code]) that is fixed by law.]

F8 (1A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 2 heading substituted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 8 para. 6; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F2 Words in s. 8(1) substituted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 8 para. 7(a)(i); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F3 S. 8(1): hyphen and sub-paras (a) and (b) substituted (1.4.1997 with savings) for words by 1996 c. 46, s. 17(2)(a); S.I. 1997/304, art. 2 (with art. 3)

F4 Words in s. 8(1)(b) added (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 8 para. 7(a)(ii); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F5 S. 8(1ZA) inserted (E.W.) (18.12.2003) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 271(2), 336(2)

F6 Words in s. 8(1ZA) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 14(a) (with Sch. 24 para. 447, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F7 Words in s. 8(1ZA) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 14(b) (with Sch. 24 para. 447, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

F8 S. 8(1A)-(4) repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 8 para. 7(b), Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

F9 S. 8(5) repealed (1.4.1997 with savings) by 1996 c. 46, ss. 17(2)(c), 35(2), Sch. 7 Pt. II; S.I. 1997/304, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 8 extended by 1995 c. 35, s. 12A(5)(6) (as inserted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 11 para. 2; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4)

C2 S. 8(1) modified (24.4.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by The Armed Forces Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions etc) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1059), arts. 1(3), 108(1)

9 Application for leave to appeal. U.K.

(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.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 9(1) excluded (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 228(4), 383(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

C4 S. 9(1) excluded (24.4.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by The Armed Forces Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions etc) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1059), arts. 1(3), 110

F10 10 Alternative procedure for appeal from court-martial abroad. U.K.

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Textual Amendments

F10 S. 10 repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 8 para. 8, Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

11 Consideration of application by Appeal Court. U.K.

(1) In considering whether or not to give leave to appeal the Appeal Court shall have regard to any expression of opinion made by F11 ... 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.

Textual Amendments

F11 Words in s. 11(1) repealed (1.1.2008) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 8 para. 9, Sch. 17; S.I. 2007/2913, art. 3