A court martial (plural; "courts-martial") is a military court that determines punishments for members of the military subject to military law, and may also be used to try enemy POWs for war crimes. The Geneva Conventions requires that POWs who are on trial for war crimes are to be subject to the same procedures as would be the holding army's own soldiers.
court martial; Lieutenant Susan Schnall, a Navy Nurse, was court-martialed for marching in a peace demonstration while in uniform, and for drop ping antiwar leaflets from a plane on navy installations.
by Niraco April 25, 2006