The Defense Department on Thursday officially rolled out a new policy for specialized and independent military lawyers to prosecute major crimes — including murder and sexual assault cases — across the armed services, shifting away from unit commanders who previously oversaw those efforts. Four new special trial counsel offices staffed with independent lawyers have opened…
President Joe Biden will sign an executive order Friday amending the Uniform Code of Military Justice by transferring key decision-making authorities outside the military chain of command in cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, murder and other serious crimes.