Legal Definitions - convening order

A convening order is a legal document that establishes a court-martial in military law. It outlines the details of the court-martial, including:

• The type of court-martial and its time and place
• The names of the members and the trial and defense counsel
• The name of the military judge, if one has been detailed
• If necessary, the authority by which the court-martial has been created

For example, if a soldier is accused of a crime, a convening order would be issued to create a court-martial to hear the case. The convening order would specify the type of court-martial, the location and time of the trial, the names of the members of the court, and the names of the trial and defense counsel.

The convening order is an important document in military law because it establishes the court-martial and ensures that the trial is conducted fairly and according to the rules and regulations of the military justice system.