Independent Lawyers Now Prosecute Major Crimes in U.S. Military

In a landmark reform, special counsels replace commanders in handling cases of sexual assault and other serious offenses.

Independent lawyers have taken over the prosecution of major crimes, including sexual assault, in the U.S. military, sidelining commanders who previously held this responsibility.
The change comes after years of pressure from Congress and is described by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III as 'the most important reform to our military justice system since the creation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1950.'
More than 160 certified special trial counsels are ready to take over prosecution decisions, with the Army having 65, the Air Force 40, the Marine Corps 33, and the Navy 24.
The impact of this change on the broader problem of sexual misconduct in the military is unclear, including whether it will lead to an increase in prosecutions and have any deterrent effect.
Despite new initiatives to prevent sexual assaults and encourage reporting, the military has yet to show any real progress in lowering the number of reported assaults.