Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 830a

Art. 30a. Proceedings conducted before referral

(a)

In General .—

(1)
The President shall prescribe regulations for matters relating to proceedings conducted before referral of charges and specifications to court-martial for trial, including the following:
(A)
Pre-referral investigative subpoenas.
(B)
Pre-referral warrants or orders for electronic communications.
(C)
Pre-referral matters referred by an appellate court.
(D)
section 806b of this title Pre-referral matters under subsection (c) or (e) of (article 6b).
(E)
Pre-referral matters relating to the following:
(i)
Pre-trial confinement of an accused.
(ii)
The mental capacity or mental responsibility of an accused.
(iii)
A request for an individual military counsel.
(2)
In addition to the matters specified in paragraph (1), the regulations prescribed under that paragraph shall—
(A)
set forth the matters that a military judge may rule upon in such proceedings;
(B)
include procedures for the review of such rulings;
(C)
include appropriate limitations to ensure that proceedings under this section extend only to matters that would be subject to consideration by a military judge in a general or special court-martial; and
(D)
provide such limitations on the relief that may be ordered under this section as the President considers appropriate.
(3)
If any matter in a proceeding under this section becomes a subject at issue with respect to charges that have been referred to a general or special court-martial, the matter shall be transferred to the military judge detailed to the court-martial.
(b)

Detail of Military Judge .—

The Secretary concerned shall prescribe regulations providing for the manner in which military judges are detailed to proceedings under subsection (a)(1).
(c)

Discretion to Designate Magistrate to Preside .—

In accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a military judge detailed to a proceeding under subsection (a)(1), other than a proceeding described in subparagraph (B) of that subsection, may designate a military magistrate to preside over the proceeding.

Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LVI, § 5202130 Stat. 2904Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title V, § 531(b)131 Stat. 1384Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, § 531(a)133 Stat. 1359(Added , , ; amended , , ; , (b)(1), , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–92, § 531(b)(1)2019—, substituted “Proceedings conducted before referral” for “Certain proceedings conducted before referral” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 116–92, § 531(a)Subsec. (a)(1), (2). , added pars. (1) and (2) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which read as follows:

“(1) Proceedings may be conducted to review, or otherwise act on, the following matters before referral of charges and specifications to court-martial for trial in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President:

“(A) Pre-referral investigative subpoenas.

“(B) Pre-referral warrants or orders for electronic communications.

“(C) Pre-referral matters referred by an appellate court.

section 806b of this title“(D) Pre-referral matters under subsection (c) or (e) of (article 6b).

“(2) The regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall—

“(A) include procedures for the review of such rulings that may be ordered under this section as the President considers appropriate; and

“(B) provide such limitations on the relief that may be ordered under this section as the President considers appropriate.”

Pub. L. 115–91, § 531(b)(1)2017—Subsec. (a)(1). , inserted “, or otherwise act on,” after “to review” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 115–91, § 531(b)(2)Subsec. (a)(1)(D). , added subpar. (D).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–91section 5542 of Pub. L. 114–32810 U.S.C. 801section 531(p) of Pub. L. 115–91section 801 of this titleAmendment by effective immediately after this section takes effect as provided for in ( note), see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

section 5542 of Pub. L. 114–328section 801 of this titleSection effective on , as designated by the President, with implementing regulations and provisions relating to applicability to various situations, see and Ex. Ord. 13825, set out as notes under .