U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) is an Article I appellate court with worldwide jurisdiction to review court-martial convictions of members of the U.S. armed forces. Originally established in 1950 as the Court of Military Appeals under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), it was later renamed and restructured to reflect its role as the highest military appellate tribunal. The CAAF is composed of five civilian judges, appointed by the President with Senate confirmation to serve 15-year terms, underscoring its independence from the military chain of command. Its jurisdiction extends to questions of law arising from courts-martial, including constitutional issues, statutory interpretation, and the legality of military justice procedures, but it does not act as a finder of fact. The court sits in Washington, D.C., but may convene hearings across the country and abroad. Decisions of the CAAF are binding within the military justice system and may be reviewed by the Supreme Court of the United States on a writ of certiorari. Functionally, the CAAF provides a vital civilian check on the military justice system, ensuring compliance with constitutional guarantees, safeguarding the rights of service members, and maintaining public confidence in the fairness and legitimacy of military discipline.