United States v. Bennett

What matters are relevant and admissible during the presentencing phase of an Air Force court-martial, given the new, expansive language of AFR 111-1? This court-martial, decided under the amended regulation, provides an opportunity to review several useful lessons from similar situations in the past.

Expansion of AFR 111-1

The presentencing materials in this case (letters of reprimand and notification of a demotion action) were admitted under paragraph 13-4 of AFR 111-1, Military Justice Guide (30 September 1988). That authority permits admission of “all those records made or maintained in…