, 35807-35808 [X15-250622]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 119 / Monday, June 22, 2015 / Presidential Documents
35807
(E) Argument by trial counsel on sentence.
(F) Argument by defense counsel on sentence.
(G) Rebuttal arguments in the discretion of the military judge."
(bb) A new rule, R.C ..M. lOOlA, is inserted immediately after R.C ..M. lOOl(g) and reads as
follows:
"Rule I 00 1A. Crime victims and presentencing
(a) In general. A crime victim of an offense of which the accused has been found guilty has the
right to be reasonably heard at a sentencing hearing relating to that offense. A victim under this
rule is not considered a witness for purposes of Article 42(b). Trial counsel shall ensure the
victim is aware of the opportunity to exercise that right. If the victim exercises the right to be
reasonably heard, the victim shall be called by the court-martial. This right is independent of
whether the victim testified during findings or is called to testifY under R.C.M. 1001.
(b) Definitions.
(1) Crime victim. For purposes of this rule, a "crime victim" is an individual who has suffered
direct physical, emotional, or pecuriiary harm as a result of the commission of ari offense of
which the accused was found guilty.
(2) Victim Impact. For the purposes of this rule, "victim impact" includes any financial,
social, psychological, or medical impact on the victim directly relating to or arising from the
offense of which the accused has been found guilty.
(3) Mitigation. For the purposes of this rule, "mitigation" includes a matter to lessen the
punishment to be adjudged by the court-martial or to furnish grounds for a recommendation of
clemency.
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(4) Right to be reasonably heard.
35808
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 119 / Monday, June 22, 2015 / Presidential Documents
(A) Capital cases. In capital cases, for purposes of this rule, the "right to be reasonably
heard" means the right to make a sworn statement.
(B) Non-capital cases. In non-capital cases, for purposes of this rule, the "right to be
reasonably heard" means the right to make a sworn or unsworn statement.
(c) Content ofstatement. The content of statements made und~r subsections (d) and (e) oftllis rule
may include victim impact or matters in mitigation.
(d) Sworn statement. The victim may give a sworn statement under this rule and shall be subject
to cross-examination concerning the statement by the trial counsel or defense counsel or
examination on the statement by the court-martial, or all or any of the three. When a victim is
under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased, the sworn statement may be
made by the victim's designee appointed under R.C.M. 80l(a)(6}. Additionally, a victim under
18 years of age may elect to make a sworn statement.
(e) Unsworn statement. The victim may make an unsworn statement and may not be crossexamined by the trial counsel or defense counsel upon it or examined upon it by the courtmartial. The prosecution or defense may, however, rebut any statements of facts therein. The
unsworn statement may be oral, written, or both. When a victim is under 18 years of age,
incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased, the unsworn statement may be made by the victim's
designee appointed under R.C.M. 80l(a)(6). Additionally, a victim under 18 years of age may
elect to make an unsworn statement.
(1) Procedure for presenting unsworn statement. After the announcement of findings, a
victim who would like to present an unsworn statement shall provide a copy to the trial counsel,
defense counsel, and military judge. The military judge may waive this requirement for good
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cause shown.
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 35807-35808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X15-250622]
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