
1 

(1) These Rules may be cited as the Armed Forces (Court Martial) (Amendment) Rules 2025.
(2) These Rules come into force on 20th February 2025.
(3) These Rules extend to England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the British overseas territories (except Gibraltar).
2 
In the Armed Forces (Court Martial) Rules 2009, in Rule 34 (the president of the board)—
(a) in paragraph (3)—
(i) after “officer”, insert “(“A”)”;
(ii) in subparagraphs (a) and (b), for “he”, in both places it occurs, substitute “A”;
(iii) in subparagraph (c), after the words “to whom proceedings relate”, insert “(“B”)” and for the words after “subject to service law,”, substitute “A satisfies the requirements set out in paragraphs (4) and (4A).”;
(b) for paragraph (4), substitute “Where B is of rank OF-6 or above, A must be of rank OF-6 or above.”;
(c) after paragraph (4), insert—“
(4A) Where B is of rank OF-5 or below, A must be of superior rank to B.”;
(d) after paragraph (5), insert—“
(5A) In this rule—
 “OF-5” means any of the following—
(a) captain, Royal Navy;
(b) colonel;
(c) group captain;
 “OF-6” means any of the following—
(a) commodore;
(b) brigadier;
(c) air commodore.”.
Alistair Carns
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Ministry of Defence
18th February 2025