DEFENCE FORCE DISCIPLINE ACT 1982 - SECT 134 Powers of judge advocate
DEFENCE FORCE DISCIPLINE ACT 1982 - SECT 134
Powers of judge advocate(1) In proceedings before a court martial, the judge advocate shall give any ruling, and exercise any discretion, that, in accordance with the law in force in the Jervis Bay Territory, would be given or exercised by a judge in a trial by jury.
(2) Where, for any purpose in connection with the giving of a ruling, or the exercise of a discretion, by a judge in a trial by jury in the Jervis Bay Territory, the judge would, in accordance with the law in force in that Territory, sit in the absence of the jury, the judge advocate shall, for any purpose in connection with the giving of such a ruling, or the exercise of such a discretion, by the judge advocate, sit without the members of the court martial.
(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), in a proceeding before a court martial, the members of the court martial shall determine what action shall be taken under Part IV in relation to a convicted person, but the judge advocate shall give a ruling on any question of law arising in connection with the making of such a determination.
(4) A ruling given by the judge advocate in accordance with subsection (1) or (3) and a decision made by the judge advocate under subsection 141(5) or (6) is binding on the court martial.
(5) The judge advocate when sitting without the members of a court martial may exercise such of the powers of the court martial or the President as are necessary for the performance of his or her duties.
(6) The powers conferred on the judge advocate by this section
are in addition to any other powers conferred on the judge advocate by any
other provision of this Act, the regulations or the rules of procedure.