What Is the Manual for Courts-Martial?

Purpose of the Manual for Courts-Martial

The Manual for Courts-Martial is the U.S. Military’s official reference for courts-martial laws and proceedings for all branches of the Armed Forces. The Manual is updated to conform with the most recent amendments to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and has seen regular additions and revisions since it became the official document of the United States Military and the UCMJ in 1951. The Manual is regularly reviewed and edited by the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice. This committee is tasked with ensuring the manual remains up to date on proper trial etiquette, jurisdictional matters, changes to the punitive articles, and other procedures of the military courts. 

Manual for Courts-Martial Editions & History 

The Manual for Courts-Martial has existed in some form since 1890, although it is certain to have been manuals concerning legal proceedings of the military long before that. Perhaps the best known and earliest version of a standard-issue MCM was written by Brigadier General John R. Brooke and Acting Judge Advocate P. Henry Ray while headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. It was called Instructions for Courts-Martial and was just over 50 pages long. The Manual operated alongside the Articles of War and the Articles of the Government of the Navy for over 60 years, but no definitive manual had yet been printed for military use. On May 6th, 1951, President Truman signed into law an act of Congress which consolidated the newly minted UCMJ and the Manual for Courts-Martial. You can find links to the most contemporary version of the Manual for Courts-Martial along with earlier versions below:

• MCM 2019 Editon: Released in 2019. Numerous changes.
• MCM 2016 Edition: Incorporates the 2012 edition, its amendments, and numerous other changes. This is the most current edition of the Manual for Courts-Martial.
• MCM 2012 Edition: Released in 2012 and supplemented with new amendments in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
• MCM 2008 Edition: Updated the 2005 edition to the MCM with the most recent amendments to the Rules for Courts-Martial, and included three new Executive Orders to the Punitive Articles section signed between 2005 and 2007.
• MCM 2000 Edition: The 2000 Edition incorporated the 1984 MCM along with all previous executive orders from 1995, 1998, and 1999. It commemorated the 50th anniversary of the UCMJ.

Earlier Additions: The first modern Manual for Courts-Martial which represented all branches of the armed forces was published in 1951. But the MCM goes as far back as 1890. You can revisit all previous editions on the Library of Congress website.