Need all Congresses? Press Enter for expanded federal results.
Executive Order

2007 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States

Document ID doc_17614dd1faa1b152 • By George W. Bush • Issued April 18, 2007 • Published April 23, 2007

doc_17614dd1faa1b152 27-Jul 72 FR 20213

Summary

Executive Order: 2007 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States

Document Text

Executive Order 13430 of April 18, 2007

2007 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including chapter 47 of title 10, United
States Code (Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10
U.S.C. 801-946), and in order to prescribe amendments
to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States,
prescribed by Executive Order 12473 of April 13, 1984,
as amended, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States, is amended as follows:

(a) R.C.M. 703(b)(1) is amended by adding at the end the following new
sentences:

``With the consent of both the accused and Government, the military judge
may authorize any witness to testify via remote means. Over a party's
objection, the military judge may authorize any witness to testify on
interlocutory questions via remote means or similar technology if the
practical difficulties of producing the witness outweigh the significance
of the witness' personal appearance (although such testimony will not be
admissible over the accused's objection as evidence on the ultimate issue
of guilt). Factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, the
costs of producing the witness; the timing of the request for production of
the witness; the potential delay in the interlocutory proceeding that may
be caused by the production of the witness; the willingness of the witness
to testify in person; the likelihood of significant interference with
military operational deployment, mission accomplishment, or essential
training; and, for child witnesses, the traumatic effect of providing in-
court testimony.''

(b) R.C.M. 804 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) as
paragraphs (c), (d), and (e), respectively, and inserting the following new
paragraph (b):

``(b) Presence by remote means. If authorized by the regulations of the
Secretary concerned, the military judge may order the use of audiovisual
technology, such as videoteleconferencing technology, between the parties
and the military judge for purposes of Article 39(a) sessions. Use of such
audiovisual technology will satisfy the ``presence'' requirement of the
accused only when the accused has a defense counsel physically present at
his location. Such technology may include two or more remote sites as long
as all parties can see and hear each other.''

(c) R.C.M. 804(c)(2) is redesignated as R.C.M. 804(d)(2) and amended to
read as follows:

``(2) Procedure. The accused's absence will be conditional upon his being
able to view the witness' testimony from a remote location. Normally,
transmission of the testimony will include a system that will transmit the
accused's image and voice into the courtroom from a remote location as well
as transmission of the child's testimony from the courtroom to the
accused's location. A one-way transmission may be used if deemed necessary
by the military judge. The accused will also be provided private,

contemporaneous communication with his counsel. The procedures described
herein shall be employed unless the accused has made a knowing and
affirmative waiver of these procedures.''

(d) R.C.M. 805(a) is amended by adding at the end the following new
sentence:

``If authorized by regulations of the Secretary concerned, for purposes of
Article 39(a) sessions solely, the presence of the military judge at
Article 39(a) sessions may be satisfied by the use of audiovisual
technology, such as videoteleconferencing technology.''

(e) R.C.M. 805(c) is amended by adding at the end the following new
sentences:

``If authorized by regulations of the Secretary concerned, for purposes of
Article 39(a) sessions solely, the presence of counsel at Article 39(a)
sessions may be satisfied by the use of audiovisual technology, such as
videoteleconferencing technology. At least one qualified defense counsel
shall be physically present with the accused.''

(f) R.C.M. 914A is amended by deleting the third sentence of paragraph (a).

(g) R.C.M. 914A is further amended by redesignating paragraph (b) as
paragraph (c) and inserting the following new paragraph (b):

``(b) Definition. As used in this rule, ``remote live testimony'' includes,
but is not limited to, testimony by videoteleconference, closed circuit
television, or similar technology.''

(h) New Rule R.C.M. 914B is inserted after R.C.M. 914A:

``Rule 914B. Use of remote testimony.

(a) General procedures. The military judge shall determine the procedures
used to take testimony via remote means. At a minimum, all parties shall be
able to hear each other, those in attendance at the remote site shall be
identified, and the accused shall be permitted private, contemporaneous
communication with his counsel.

(b) Definition. As used in this rule, testimony via ``remote means''
includes, but is not limited to, testimony by videoteleconference, closed
circuit television, telephone, or similar technology.''

(i) R.C.M. 1001(e)(2)(D) is amended by deleting the ``or'' before ``former
testimony'' and inserting ``, or testimony by remote means'' after ``former
testimony.''

Sec. 2. Part IV of the Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States, is amended as follows:

(a) Paragraph 4.c.(6) is amended by redesignating paragraph (f) as
paragraph (g) and inserting the following new paragraph (f):

``(f) Article 119a-attempting to kill an unborn child''

(b) Paragraph 12a is amended by replacing the word ``Transportation'' with
the words ``Homeland Security''.

(c) Paragraph 35a is amended to read as follows:

``(a) Any person subject to this chapter who --

(1) operates or physically controls any vehicle, aircraft, or vessel in a
reckless or wanton manner or while impaired by a substance described in
section 912a(b) of this title (Article 112a(b)); or

(2) operates or is in actual physical control of any vehicle, aircraft, or
vessel while drunk or when the alcohol concentration in the person's blood
or breath is equal to or exceeds the applicable limit under subsection (b),
shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

(b)(1) For purposes of subsection (a), the applicable limit on the alcohol
concentration in a person's blood or breath is as follows:

(A) In the case of the operation or control of a vehicle, aircraft, or
vessel in the United States, such limit is the lesser of --

(i) the blood alcohol content limit under the law of the State in which the
conduct occurred, except as may be provided under paragraph (2) for conduct
on a military installation that is in more than one State; or

(ii) the blood alcohol content limit specified in paragraph (3).

(B) In the case of the operation or control of a vehicle, aircraft, or
vessel outside the United States, the applicable blood alcohol content
limit is the blood alcohol content limit specified in paragraph (3) or such
lower limit as the Secretary of Defense may by regulation prescribe.

(2) In the case of a military installation that is in more than one State,
if those States have different blood alcohol content limits under their
respective State laws, the Secretary may select one such blood alcohol
content limit to apply uniformly on that installation.

(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), the blood alcohol content limit with
respect to alcohol concentration in a person's blood is 0.10 grams of
alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood and with respect to alcohol
concentration in a person's breath is 0.10 grams of alcohol per 210 liters
of breath, as shown by chemical analysis.

(4) In this subsection:

(A) The term ``blood alcohol content limit'' means the amount of alcohol
concentration in a person's blood or breath at which operation or control
of a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel is prohibited.

(B) The term ``United States'' includes the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa
and the term ``State'' includes each of those jurisdictions.

(d) Paragraph 35b(2)(c) is amended to read as follows:

``(c) the alcohol concentration in the accused's blood or breath equaled to
or exceeded the applicable limit under subparagraph (b) of paragraph 35a.
[NOTE: If injury resulted add the following element]''

(e) Para 35f is amended to read as follows:

``In that ------------------ (personal jurisdiction data), did (at/onboard
location)(subject matter jurisdiction data, if required), on or about ----
---------- 20----, (in the motor pool area)(near the Officer's Club)(at the
intersection of ---------- and ------------)(while in the Gulf of
Mexico)(while in flight over North America) physically control [a vehicle,
to wit: (a truck)(a passenger car)(------------)] [an aircraft, to wit: (an
AH 64 helicopter)(an F 14 A fighter)(a KC 135 tanker)(------------------
)][a vessel, to wit: (the aircraft carrier USS)(the Coast Cutter)(--------
--)], [while drunk][while impaired by ----------][while the alcohol
concentration in his (blood or breath equaled or exceeded the applicable
limit under subparagraph (b) of paragraph 35a) as shown by chemical
analysis][in a (reckless)(wanton) manner by (attempting to pass another
vehicle on a sharp curve)(by ordering that the aircraft be flown below the
authorized altitude)][and did thereby cause said
(vehicle)(aircraft)(vessel) to (strike and )(injure ------------------)].''

(f) By inserting the new paragraph 44a:

``44a. Article 119a--Death or injury of an unborn child

a. Text.

(a)(1) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in conduct that
violates any of the provisions of law listed in subsection (b) and thereby
causes the death of, or bodily injury (as defined in section 1365 of title
18 to, a child who is in utero at the time the conduct takes place, is
guilty of a separate offense under this section and shall, upon conviction,
be punished by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial

may direct, which shall be consistent with the punishments prescribed by
the President for that conduct had that injury or death occurred to the
unborn child's mother.

(2) An offense under this section does not require proof that --

(i) the person engaging in the conduct had knowledge or should have had
knowledge that the victim of the underlying offense was pregnant; or

(ii) the accused intended to cause the death of, or bodily injury to, the
unborn child.

(3) If the person engaging in the conduct thereby intentionally kills or
attempts to kill the unborn child, that person shall, instead of being
punished under paragraph (1), be punished as provided under sections 880,
918, and 919(a) of this title (articles 80, 118, and 119(a)) for
intentionally killing or attempting to kill a human being.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the death penalty shall not
be imposed for an offense under this section.

(b) The provisions referred to in subsection (a) are sections 918, 919(a),
919(b)(2), 920(a), 922, 924, 926, and 928 of this title (articles 118,
119(a), 119(b)(2), 120(a), 122, 124, 126, and 128).

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the prosecution

(1) of any person authorized by state or federal law to perform abortions
for conduct relating to an abortion for which the consent of the pregnant
woman, or a person authorized by law to act on her behalf, has been
obtained or for which such consent is implied by law;

(2) of any person for any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her
unborn child; or

(3) of any woman with respect to her unborn child.

(d) As used in this section, the term ``unborn child'' means a child in
utero, and the term ``child in utero'' or ``child who is in utero'' means a
member of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is
carried in the womb.

b. Elements.

(1) Injuring an unborn child.

(a) That the accused was engaged in the [(murder (article 118)), (voluntary
manslaughter (article 119(a))), (involuntary manslaughter (article
119(b)(2))), (rape (article 120)), (robbery (article 122)), (maiming
(article 124)), (assault (article 128)), of] or [burning or setting afire,
as arson (article 126), of (a dwelling inhabited by) (a structure or
property (known to be occupied by) (belonging to))] a woman;

(b) That the woman was then pregnant; and

(c) That the accused thereby caused bodily injury to the unborn child of
that woman.

(2) Killing an unborn child.

(a) That the accused was engaged in the [(murder (article 118)), (voluntary
manslaughter (article 119(a))), (involuntary manslaughter (article
119(b)(2))), (rape (article 120)), (robbery (article 122)), (maiming
(article 124)), (assault (article 128)), of] or [burning or setting afire,
as arson (article 126), of (a dwelling inhabited by) (a structure or
property known to (be occupied by) (belong to))] a woman;

(b) That the woman was then pregnant; and

(c) That the accused thereby caused the death of the unborn child of that
woman.

(3) Attempting to kill an unborn child.

(a) That the accused was engaged in the [(murder (article 118)), (voluntary
manslaughter (article 119(a))), (involuntary manslaughter (article
119(b)(2))), (rape (article 120)), (robbery (article 122)), (maiming
(article 124)), (assault (article 128)), of] or [burning or setting afire,
as arson (article 126), of (a dwelling inhabited by) (a structure or
property (known to be occupied by) (belonging to))] a woman;

(b) That the woman was then pregnant; and

(c) That the accused thereby intended and attempted to kill the unborn
child of that woman.

(4) Intentionally killing an unborn child.

(a) That the accused was engaged in the [(murder (article 118)), (voluntary
manslaughter (article 119(a))), (involuntary manslaughter (article
119(b)(2))), (rape (article 120)), (robbery (article 122)), (maiming
(article 124)), (assault (article 128)), of] or [burning or setting afire,
as arson (article 126), of (a dwelling inhabited by) (a structure or
property (known to be occupied by) (belonging to))] a woman;

(b) That the woman was then pregnant; and

(c) That the accused thereby intentionally killed the unborn child of that
woman.

c. Explanation.

(1) Nature of offense. This article makes it a separate, punishable crime
to cause the death of or bodily injury to an unborn child while engaged in
arson (article 126, UCMJ); murder (article 118, UCMJ); voluntary
manslaughter (article 119(a), UCMJ); involuntary manslaughter (article
119(b)(2), UCMJ); rape (article 120(a), UCMJ); robbery (article 122, UCMJ);
maiming (article 124, UCMJ); or assault (article 128, UCMJ) against a
pregnant woman. For all underlying offenses, except arson, this article
requires that the victim of the underlying offense be the pregnant mother.
For purposes of arson, the pregnant mother must have some nexus to the
arson such that she sustained some ``bodily injury'' due to the arson. For
the purposes of this article the term ``woman'' means a female of any age.
This article does not permit the prosecution of any --

(a) person for conduct relating to an abortion for which the consent of the
pregnant woman, or a person authorized by law to act on her behalf, has
been obtained or for which such consent is implied by law;

(b) person for any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her unborn
child; or

(c) woman with respect to her unborn child.

(2) The offenses of ``injuring an unborn child'' and ``killing an unborn
child'' do not require proof that --

(a) the person engaging in the conduct (the accused) had knowledge or
should have had knowledge that the victim of the underlying offense was
pregnant; or

(b) the accused intended to cause the death of, or bodily injury to, the
unborn child.

(3) The offense of ``attempting to kill an unborn child'' requires that the
accused intended by his conduct to cause the death of the unborn child (See
paragraph b(3)(c) above).

(4) Bodily injury. For the purpose of this offense, the term ``bodily
injury'' is that which is provided by section 1365 of title 18, to wit: a
cut, abrasion, bruise, burn, or disfigurement; physical pain; illness;
impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty; or
any other injury to the body, no matter how temporary.

(5) Unborn child. ``Unborn child'' means a child in utero or a member of
the species homo sapiens who is carried in the womb, at any stage of
development, from conception to birth.

d. Lesser included offenses.

(1) Killing an unborn child. Article 119a--injuring an unborn child

(2) Intentionally killing an unborn child.

(a) Article 119a--killing an unborn child

(b) Article 119a--injuring an unborn child

(c) Article 119a--attempts (attempting to kill an unborn child)

e. Maximum punishment.

The maximum punishment for (1) Injuring an unborn
child; (2) Killing an unborn child; (3) Attempting to
kill an unborn child; or (4) Intentionally killing an
unborn child is such punishment, other than death, as a
court-martial may direct, but shall be consistent with
the punishment had the bodily injury, death, attempt to
kill, or intentional killing occurred to the unborn
child's mother.

f. Sample specifications.

(1) Injuring an unborn child.

In that ----------------------------------------------------(personal
jurisdiction data), did (at/on board--location), (subject-matter
jurisdiction data, if required), on or about ------------------ 20------,
cause bodily injury to the unborn child of , a pregnant woman, by engaging
in the [(murder) (voluntary manslaughter) (involuntary manslaughter) (rape)
(robbery) (maiming) (assault) of] [(burning) (setting afire) of (a dwelling
inhabited by) (a structure or property known to (be occupied by) (belong
to))] that woman.

(2) Killing an unborn child.

In that ----------------------------------------------------(personal
jurisdiction data), did (at/on board--location), (subject-matter
jurisdiction data, if required), on or about ------------------ 20------,
cause the death of the unborn child of , a pregnant woman, by engaging in
the [(murder) (voluntary manslaughter) (involuntary manslaughter) (rape)
(robbery) (maiming) (assault) of] [(burning) (setting afire) of (a dwelling
inhabited by) (a structure or property known to (be occupied by) (belong
to))] that woman.

(3) Attempting to kill an unborn child.

In that ----------------------------------------------------(personal
jurisdiction data), did (at/on board--location), (subject-matter
jurisdiction data, if required), on or about ------------------ 20------,
attempt to kill the unborn child of , a pregnant woman, by engaging in the
[(murder) (voluntary manslaughter) (involuntary manslaughter) (rape)
(robbery) (maiming) (assault) of] [(burning) (setting afire) of (a dwelling
inhabited by) (a structure or property known to (be occupied by) (belong
to))] that woman.

(4) Intentionally killing an unborn child.

In that ----------------------------------------------------(personal
jurisdiction data), did (at/on board--location), (subject-matter
jurisdiction data, if required), on or about ------------------ 20------,
intentionally kill the unborn child of , a pregnant woman, by engaging in
the [(murder) (voluntary manslaughter) (involuntary manslaughter) (rape)
(robbery) (maiming) (assault) of] [(burning) (setting afire) of (a dwelling
inhabited by) (a structure or property known to (be occupied by) (belong
to))] that woman.''

(g) By inserting the new paragraph 45a to read:

``45a. Article 120a Stalking

a. Text

(a) Any person subject to this section:

(1) who wrongfully engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific
person that would cause a reasonable person to fear death or bodily harm,
including sexual assault, to himself or herself or a member of his or her
immediate family;

(2) who has knowledge, or should have knowledge, that the specific person
will be placed in reasonable fear of death or bodily harm, including sexual
assault, to himself or herself or a member of his or her immediate family;
and

(3) whose acts induce reasonable fear in the specific person of death or
bodily harm, including sexual assault, to himself or herself or to a member
of his or her immediate family; is guilty of stalking and shall be punished
as a court-martial may direct.

(b) In this section:

(1) The term ``course of conduct'' means:

(A) a repeated maintenance of visual or physical proximity to a specific
person; or

(B) a repeated conveyance of verbal threat, written threats, or threats
implied by conduct, or a combination of such threats, directed at or
towards a specific person.

(2) The term ``repeated,'' with respect to conduct, means two or more
occasions of such conduct.

(3) The term ``immediate family,'' in the case of a specific person, means
a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the person, or any other family
member, relative, or intimate partner of the person who regularly resides
in the household of the person or who within the six months preceding the
commencement of the course of conduct regularly resided in the household of
the person.

b. Elements.

(1) That the accused wrongfully engaged in a course of conduct directed at
a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear death or
bodily harm to himself or herself or a member of his or her immediate
family;

(2) That the accused had knowledge, or should have had knowledge, that the
specific person would be placed in reasonable fear of death or bodily harm
to himself or herself or a member of his or her immediate family; and

(3) That the accused's acts induced reasonable fear in the specific person
of death or bodily harm to himself or herself or to a member of his or her
immediate family.

c. Explanation. See Paragraph 54.c(1)(a) for an
explanation of ``bodily harm''.

d. Lesser included offenses. Article 80--attempts.

e. Maximum punishment. Dishonorable discharge,
forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement
for 3 years.

f. Sample Specification.

In that ------------------------------------------
(personal jurisdiction data), who (knew)(should have
known) that ------------ would be placed in reasonable
fear of (death)(bodily harm) to (himself) (herself) (--
----------, a member of his or her immediate family)
did (at/on board--location), (subject-matter
jurisdiction data, if required), (on or about --------
---------- 20------)(from about ------------to about --
---------- 20----), wrongfully engage in a course of
conduct directed at ------------, to wit: ------------
-------------- ---------------- thereby inducing in --
--------------, a reasonable fear of (death)(bodily
harm) to (himself)(herself) (--------, a member of his
or her immediate family).''

Sec. 3. Part V of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United
States, is amended as follows:

(a) Paragraph 5.c.(8) is amended by replacing the word ``foreign'' with the
word ``hardship.''

(b) Paragraph 7(e) is amended by replacing the word ``Transportation'' with
the words ``Homeland Security''.

Sec. 4. Part IV of the Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States, is amended by replacing the word
``Transportation'' with the words ``Homeland
Security.''

Sec. 5. These amendments shall take effect 30 days from
the date of this order.

(a) Nothing in these amendments shall be construed to make punishable any
act done or omitted prior to the effective date of this order that was not
punishable when done or omitted.

(b) Nothing in these amendments shall be construed to invalidate any
nonjudicial punishment proceedings, restraint, investigation, referral of
charges, trial in which arraignment occurred, or other action begun prior
to the effective date of this order, and any such nonjudicial punishment,
restraint, investigation, referral of charges, trial, or other action may
proceed in the same manner and with the same effect as if these amendments
had not been prescribed.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

April 18, 2007.

Document Links and Sources

Subtype Metadata

Field Value
Executive Order Number 13430

Linked Federal Bills

When this document is tied to federal legislation, you can open those bill pages directly from here.

No federal bill links are currently attached to this executive document.

Related Veto Records

Browse vetoes
No veto rows are linked to this document.