MJ-014 · MILITARY JUSTICE
Trial Procedure, Findings & Burden of Proof
MJ-014: The trial record should let a later reader reconstruct the forum, pleas, motions, admitted evidence, objections, instructions, deliberative framework and findings without confusing accusation with adjudication.
Controlling authorities
Working procedure
- Identify the military judge, members if any, counsel, court reporter and governing convening order.
- Preserve arraignment, pleas, motions and rulings before opening statements and evidence.
- Maintain an exhibit and witness index that identifies admitted, rejected and marked-but-not-admitted material.
- Preserve objections, limiting rulings, instructions and special findings where applicable.
- Record each finding by charge and specification; do not collapse mixed findings, exceptions or substitutions into a single outcome label.
Records to preserve
Convening order; arraignment record; motions and rulings; transcript; exhibits; witness list; instructions; findings worksheet; announced findings; Statement of Trial Results.
Version control
Match the offense date, procedural date, service, forum and filing date to the governing UCMJ text, MCM/R.C.M./M.R.E. version, later presidential amendments, service rule and court rule. The 2024 MCM remains the current published edition, but later operative amendments must be checked before treating it as complete current procedure.
Registry sources: SRC-173; SRC-174; SRC-175 · Last verified: October 4, 2026 · Review cadence: 14 days
