(a) At any time after the service of charges which have been referred for trial to a court-martial composed of a military judge and members, the military judge may, subject section thirty-five of this article, call the court into session without the presence of the members for the purpose of:
(1) Hearing and determining motions raising defenses or objections which are capable of determination without trial of the issues raised by a plea of not guilty;
(2) Hearing and ruling upon any matter which may be ruled upon by the military judge under this article, whether or not the matter is appropriate for later consideration or decision by the members of the court;
(3) Holding the arraignment and receiving the pleas of the accused; and
(4) Performing any other procedural function which does not require the presence of the members of the court under this article.
(b) These proceedings shall be conducted in the presence of the accused, the defense counsel, and the trial counsel and shall be made a part of the record. These proceedings may be conducted notwithstanding the number of court members and without regard to section twenty-nine.
(c) When the members of a court-martial deliberate or vote, only the members may be present. All other proceedings, including any other consultation of the members of the court with counsel or the military judge, shall be made a part of the record and shall be in the presence of the accused, the defense counsel, the trial counsel, and the military judge.
Structure West Virginia Code
Article 1E. Code of Military Justice
§15-1E-1. Definitions; Gender Neutrality
§15-1E-2. Persons Subject to This Article; Jurisdiction
§15-1E-3. Jurisdiction to Try Certain Personnel
§15-1E-5. Territorial Applicability of the Article
§15-1E-9. Imposition of Restraint
§15-1E-10. Restraint of Persons Charged With Offenses
§15-1E-11. Place of Confinement; Reports and Receiving of Prisoners
§15-1E-12. Confinement With Enemy Prisoners Prohibited
§15-1E-13. Punishment Prohibited Before Trial
§15-1E-14. Delivery of Offenders to Civil Authorities
§15-1E-15. Commanding Officer's Nonjudicial Punishment
§15-1E-16. Courts-Martial Classified
§15-1E-17. Jurisdiction of Courts-Martial in General
§15-1E-18. Jurisdiction of General Courts-Martial
§15-1E-19. Jurisdiction of Special Courts-Martial
§15-1E-20. Jurisdiction of Summary Courts-Martial
§15-1E-22. Who May Convene General Courts-Martial
§15-1E-23. Who May Convene Special Courts-Martial
§15-1E-24. Who May Convene Summary Courts-Martial
§15-1E-25. Who May Serve on Courts-Martial
§15-1E-26. Military Judge of a General or Special Court-Martial
§15-1E-27. Detail of Trial Counsel and Defense Counsel
§15-1E-28. Detail or Employment of Reporters and Interpreters
§15-1E-29. Absent and Additional Members
§15-1E-30. Charges and Specifications
§15-1E-31. Compulsory Self-Incrimination Prohibited
§15-1E-33. Forwarding of Charges
§15-1E-34. Advice of Judge Advocate and Reference for Trial
§15-1E-36. Governor or the Adjutant General May Prescribe Rules
§15-1E-37. Unlawfully Influencing Action of Court
§15-1E-38. Duties of Trial Counsel and Defense Counsel
§15-1E-42. Oaths or Affirmations
§15-1E-43. Statute of Limitations
§15-1E-45. Pleas of the Accused
§15-1E-46. Opportunity to Obtain Witnesses and Other Evidence
§15-1E-47. Refusal to Appear or Testify
§15-1E-50. Admissibility of Records of Courts of Inquiry
§15-1E-50a. Defense of Lack of Mental Responsibility
§15-1E-52. Number of Votes Required
§15-1E-53. Court to Announce Action
§15-1E-55. Cruel and Unusual Punishments Prohibited
§15-1E-57. Effective Date of Sentences
§15-1E-57a. Deferment of Sentences
§15-1E-58. Execution of Confinement
§15-1E-58a. Sentences: Reduction in Enlisted Grade Upon Approval
§15-1E-58b. Sentences: Forfeiture of Pay and Allowances During Confinement
§15-1E-59. Error of Law; Lesser Included Offense
§15-1E-60. Action by the Convening Authority
§15-1E-61. Withdrawal of Appeal
§15-1E-62. Appeal by the State
§15-1E-64. Review by the Senior Force Judge Advocate
§15-1E-65. Disposition of Records After Review by the Convening Authority
§15-1E-67a. Review by State Appellate Authority
§15-1E-71. Execution of Sentence; Suspension of Sentence
§15-1E-72. Vacation of Suspension
§15-1E-73. Petition for a New Trial
§15-1E-74. Remission and Suspension
§15-1E-76. Finality of Proceedings, Findings, and Sentences
§15-1E-76a. Leave Required to Be Taken Pending Review of Certain Court-Martial Convictions
§15-1E-78. Accessory After the Fact
§15-1E-79. Conviction of Lesser Included Offense
§15-1E-83. Fraudulent Enlistment, Appointment, or Separation
§15-1E-84. Unlawful Enlistment, Appointment, or Separation
§15-1E-86. Absence Without Leave
§15-1E-88. Contempt Toward Officials
§15-1E-89. Disrespect Toward Superior Commissioned Officer
§15-1E-90. Assaulting or Willfully Disobeying Superior Commissioned Officer
§15-1E-91. Insubordinate Conduct Toward Warrant Officer, Noncommissioned Officer, or Petty Officer
§15-1E-92. Failure to Obey Order or Regulation
§15-1E-93. Cruelty and Maltreatment
§15-1E-95. Resistance, Flight, Breach of Arrest, and Escape
§15-1E-96. Releasing Prisoner Without Proper Authority
§15-1E-98. Noncompliance With Procedural Rules
§15-1E-99. Misbehavior Before the Enemy
§15-1E-100. Subordinate Compelling Surrender
§15-1E-101. Improper Use of Countersign
§15-1E-102. Forcing a Safeguard
§15-1E-103. Captured or Abandoned Property
§15-1E-105. Misconduct as Prisoner
§15-1E-107. False Official Statements
§15-1E-108. Military Property - Loss, Damage, Destruction, or Wrongful Disposition
§15-1E-109. Property Other Than Military Property - Waste, Spoilage, or Destruction
§15-1E-110. Improper Hazarding of Vessel
§15-1E-112a. Wrongful Use, Possession, etc., of Controlled Substances
§15-1E-113. Misbehavior of Sentinel
§15-1E-116. Riot or Breach of Peace
§15-1E-117. Provoking Speeches or Gestures
§15-1E-132. Frauds Against the Government
§15-1E-133. Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman
§15-1E-136. Authority to Administer Oaths and to Act as Notary
§15-1E-137. Articles to Be Explained
§15-1E-138. Complaints of Wrongs
§15-1E-139. Redress of Injuries to Property
§15-1E-140. Delegation by the Governor
§15-1E-141. Payment of Fees, Costs and Expenses
§15-1E-142. Payment of Fines and Disposition Thereof
§15-1E-143. Uniformity of Interpretation
§15-1E-144. Immunity for Action of Military Courts
§15-1E-147. Time of Taking Effect
§15-1E-148. Supersedes Existing State Military Justice Codes