Bill Moves to Allow Supreme Court Review of Courts-Martial Decisions

The House Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would expand the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, allowing it to review petitions filed by military service members challenging courts-martial decisions. Under current law, a service member is barred from petitioning the high court if the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces has refused to review his or her court-martial appeal or has denied a writ for extraordinary relief. The only exception is when someone is sentenced to death.