US Code

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

10 U.S.C. § 853a

Art. 53a. Plea agreements

(a)

In General .—

(1)
section 853 of this title Subject to paragraph (3), at any time before the announcement of findings under (article 53), the convening authority and the accused may enter into a plea agreement with respect to such matters as—
(A)
the manner in which the convening authority will dispose of one or more charges and specifications; and
(B)
limitations on the sentence that may be adjudged for one or more charges and specifications.
(2)
The military judge of a general or special court-martial may not participate in discussions between the parties concerning prospective terms and conditions of a plea agreement.
(3)
section 824a of this title With respect to charges and specifications over which a special trial counsel exercises authority pursuant to (article 24a), a plea agreement under this section may only be entered into between a special trial counsel and the accused. Such agreement shall be subject to the same limitations and conditions applicable to other plea agreements under this section (article).
(b)

Acceptance of Plea Agreement .—

Subject to subsection (c), the military judge of a general or special court-martial shall accept a plea agreement submitted by the parties, except that—
(1)
in the case of an offense with a sentencing parameter set forth in regulations prescribed by the President pursuant to section 539E(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, the military judge may reject a plea agreement that proposes a sentence that is outside the sentencing parameter if the military judge determines that the proposed sentence is plainly unreasonable; and
(2)
in the case of an offense for which the President has not established a sentencing parameter pursuant to section 539E(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, the military judge may reject a plea agreement that proposes a sentence if the military judge determines that the proposed sentence is plainly unreasonable.
(c)

Limitation on Acceptance of Plea Agreements .—

The military judge of a general or special court-martial shall reject a plea agreement that—
(1)
contains a provision that has not been accepted by both parties;
(2)
contains a provision that is not understood by the accused;
(3)
section 856(b)(2) of this title except as provided in subsection (c), contains a provision for a sentence that is less than the mandatory minimum sentence applicable to an offense referred to in (article 56(b)(2));
(4)
is prohibited by law; or
(5)
is contrary to, or is inconsistent with, a regulation prescribed by the President with respect to terms, conditions, or other aspects of plea agreements.
(d)

Limited Conditions for Acceptance of Plea Agreement for Sentence Below Mandatory Minimum for Certain Offenses .—

section 856(b)(2) of this titleWith respect to an offense referred to in (article 56(b)(2))—
(1)
the military judge may accept a plea agreement that provides for a sentence of bad conduct discharge; and
(2)
upon recommendation of the trial counsel, in exchange for substantial assistance by the accused in the investigation or prosecution of another person who has committed an offense, the military judge may accept a plea agreement that provides for a sentence that is less than the mandatory minimum sentence for the offense charged.
(e)

Binding Effect of Plea Agreement .—

Upon acceptance by the military judge of a general or special court-martial, a plea agreement shall bind the parties (including the convening authority and the special trial counsel in the case of a plea agreement entered into under subsection (a)(3)) and the court-martial.

Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LVII, § 5237130 Stat. 2917Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title V, § 531(d)131 Stat. 1384Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V135 Stat. 1698(Added , , ; amended , title X, § 1081(c)(1)(H), , , 1598; , §§ 539, 539E(b), , , 1701.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 539E(e) of Pub. L. 117–81section 856 of this titleSection 539E(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, referred to in subsec. (b), is , which is set out as a note under .

Amendments

Pub. L. 117–81, § 539(a)(1)2021—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “Subject to paragraph (3), at any time” for “At any time” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 117–81, § 539(a)(2)Subsec. (a)(3). , added par. (3).

Pub. L. 117–81, § 539E(b)Subsecs. (b), (c). , added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).

Pub. L. 117–81, § 539E(b)(1)Subsec. (d). , redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).

Pub. L. 117–81, § 539(b), inserted “(including the convening authority and the special trial counsel in the case of a plea agreement entered into under subsection (a)(3))” after “parties”.

Pub. L. 117–81, § 539E(b)(1)Subsec. (e). , redesignated subsec. (d) as (e).

Pub. L. 115–91, § 531(d)(1)2017—Subsec. (b)(4), (5). , added pars. (4) and (5).

Pub. L. 115–91, § 1081(c)(1)(H)Pub. L. 115–91, § 531(d)(2)Subsec. (d). , which directed substitution of “court-martial” for “military judge” the second place it appeared, could not be executed because of the prior amendment by . See below.

Pub. L. 115–91, § 531(d)(2), substituted “shall bind the parties and the court-martial” for “shall bind the parties and the military judge”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

section 539 of Pub. L. 117–81section 539C of Pub. L. 117–81section 801 of this titleAmendment by effective on the date that is two years after , and applicable with respect to offenses that occur after that date, with provisions for delayed effect and applicability if regulations are not prescribed by the President before the date that is two years after , see , set out as a note under .

section 539E(b) of Pub. L. 117–81section 539E(f) of Pub. L. 117–81section 853 of this titleAmendment by effective on the date that is two years after , and applicable to sentences adjudged in cases in which all findings of guilty are for offenses that occurred after the date that is two years after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

section 531(d) of Pub. L. 115–91Pub. L. 114–32810 U.S.C. 801section 531(p) of Pub. L. 115–91section 801 of this titleAmendment by effective immediately after the amendments made by div. E (§§ 5001–5542) of take effect as provided for in section 5542 of that Act ( note), see , set out as a note under .

section 1081(c)(1)(H) of Pub. L. 115–91Pub. L. 114–32810 U.S.C. 801section 1081(c)(4) of Pub. L. 115–91section 801 of this titleAmendment by effective immediately after the amendments made by div. E (§§ 5001–5542) of take effect as provided for in section 5542 of that Act ( 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 .