Modernizing Justice: The Military Court Service’s Strategic Path Forward to 2030
Introduction
The Military Court Service (MCS) operates independently yet collaboratively with the Office of the Judge Advocate General, the Service Prosecuting Authority (equivalent to the Crown Prosecution Service), various Service chains of command, the National Probation Service, and victim and witness services and military court advocates.
Service Court proceedings are publicly announced over a two-week assize period, with comprehensive listings accompanying each hearing. Unless specifically directed by the presiding judge, all hearings adhere to the same public accessibility standards as civilian courts.
Results from Service Court trials are now available to the public on a monthly basis.
Further detailed information regarding Court Martials, Summary Appeal Courts, and the Service Civilian Court can be found in the Manual of Service Law (JSP 830).
HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate – Military Court Service Report – August 2026
This inspection was conducted at the invitation of the Director of the Military Court Service, reflecting a commitment to transparency, continuous improvement, and independent scrutiny. The Inspectorate values the MCS’s willingness to engage in external review, demonstrating a mature organizational culture open to constructive challenge and development.
Anthony Rogers, HM Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service
HMCPSI – The Military Court Service, August 2026
Organisation
The MCS maintains its independence from Service chains of command and is staffed exclusively by civil servants employed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) who work from dedicated court centres.
To safeguard independence, the Director MCS is appointed by the Defence Council as the Court Administration Officer (CAO). The CAO holds a legislated duty to notify participants of court proceedings and to specify lay members of the court, effectively serving the function of jury selection.
The Court Martial Appeal Court recently clarified the division of responsibilities between the Judge Advocate and the CAO regarding Court Martial composition. The ruling established that the Judge Advocate provides direction on composition categories, while the CAO specifies individual members. These functions operate in accordance with the Armed Forces Act 2006 and associated statutory instruments.
Court of Appeal Judgment – Rex v B (, , )
Court of Appeal Judgment – Rex v B – Odt (, )
The CAO serves as a permanent member of both the Service Justice Board (SJB) and the Service Justice Executive Group (SJEG).
The Director MCS operates from the Bulford Court Centre, supported by a senior management team and a dedicated Court Administration Unit. Each Court Centre includes a Court Officer charged individually with managing court proceedings, liaising with the judiciary, and maintaining court listings.
The current Director of the Military Court Service is Mr Cleaven Faulkner JP, whose biography is available as a PDF.
Military Court Service Strategic Plan 2026-2030
The Strategic Plan, owned by the Director of the Military Court Service (MCS), defines the strategic direction for MCS personnel and partners in delivering Military Court business. The Service Justice System represents a critical public service depended upon by hundreds of victims, witnesses, families, and defendants across the United Kingdom and internationally to achieve meaningful justice outcomes.
Building on achievements from the previous four years, this plan establishes a clear roadmap for implementing an operating model centered on timely, impartial, and efficient administration of Service court procedures. Its ambition is to strengthen confidence in a justice system that is fair, effective, and accessible to all who rely upon it.
The strategy cultivates a culture of continuous improvement and ongoing modernization of court processes. It recognizes the value of leveraging technology‑based systems that enhance efficiency, reduce bureaucratic duplication, and improve integration with partner organizations and stakeholders. These reforms lay the essential groundwork for MCS to implement a fully integrated Military Court Listing System (MCLS), incorporating its in‑court digital case management platform known as Case Center.
Benefiting from significant recent investment, the MCS is now positioned to consolidate progress, sustain innovation-driven technology adoption, and ensure that the Services operate a modern, effective court system benefiting all Service personnel and their families. Looking forward to 2030, the strategy identifies specific areas for ongoing modernization and transformation, committing to best value for money while delivering increasingly efficient and effective criminal court services for the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force.
Through this modernization initiative, the goal is to foster greater public trust and respect for the Service Justice System. The organization remains dedicated to building a leading‑edge service characterized by openness, inclusivity, and innovation. Success is pursued through the professionalism, dedication, and integrity of its workforce, who dedicate themselves daily to upholding the principles of justice.
MCS Strategic Plan 2026-2030 (, , )
Military Court Centres
Two permanent court centres serve the UK: Bulford in Wiltshire and Catterick in North Yorkshire.
Bulford Military Court Centre
A view of the Bulford Military Court Centre
Catterick Military Court Centre
Images of our courtrooms illustrate the facilities supporting these jurisdictions.
Due to the reduced deployment of British Forces Germany, the former permanent court site at Sennelager has been repurposed for alternative uses; however, it retains Court Martial capability should one become necessary. MCS maintains permanent Court Martial capacity at Episkopi, Cyprus.
The entire court system is intrinsically portable, allowing MCS to convene trials outside designated Court Centres across the UK or abroad. Recent examples include Nightingale Courts at Tidworth and Catterick, as well as locations overseas in Cyprus, Germany, and Gibraltar.
MCS has invested in advanced Digital Audio Recording (DAR) technology to meet legal obligations for audio-visual documentation of proceedings. Capability exists for both four fixed courts and two portable recording configurations. Service Courts have adopted a State‑of‑the‑Art case management system called Case Center—the latest iteration of the Crown Court system, Caselines—and have been operational since September 2023. Ongoing modernization efforts advance the Case Center Jury Portal, enabling Board members to access evidence digitally during proceedings.
Procedure
The Deputy Director MCS oversees the execution of the MCS assize programme. Cases are listed within ‘assize sessions’, which are conducted at the Military Court Centres managed by MCS staff. However, particularly lengthy or complex Court Martial or Service Civilian Court matters may be listed as ‘stand‑alone’ cases outside standard session slots. Where feasible, case volume is distributed equally between both Court Centres.
During the case listing phase within case management, the Court Officer collaborates with the resident Judge Advocate to appoint a Judge Advocate to each case.
The MCS policy requires cases to be listed for an initial hearing within 42 days of receiving directional orders from the Service Prosecuting Authority.
How we select a Court Martial Board
Our Operating procedure for selecting Court Martial Boards
Court Martial Board Standard Operating Procedure (, , , )
On 1 January 2023, legislative changes were introduced that modified the constitution of a Court Martial board. These amendments required the CAO to specify Court Martial boards with minimum representation of one male and one female member wherever reasonably practicable, and to increase the number of lay members from five to six for prescribed proceedings. Additionally, specification of the OR7 rank from the nominated pool of lay members became permissible under the act.
“OR7 rank” comprises any of the following personnel: chief petty officer, staff corporal, staff sergeant, colour sergeant, Royal Marines, flight sergeant, or chief technician.
Armd Forces (Service Court Rules) (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2022
Section 155, Armed Forces Act 2006
The Military Court Service case management system, Case Center (formerly Caselines)
The Military Court Service partners with Thomson Reuters implementing Case Center, a cloud‑based solution that streamlines how courts prepare, manage, and present digital cases within a centralized platform.
Courts utilize this system to exchange and share case materials from any device, keeping all parties synchronized as they prepare for hearings. During actual proceedings, purpose‑built presentation tools facilitate smoother dialogue, allowing all parties to locate relevant documents promptly.
Appearing as a legal representative in a Military Court
If you represent someone as legal counsel in a Military Court, you must establish a Case Center account via the provided link. After submitting your details and confirming the role, you will be registered and invited to assigned cases.
Case Center – terms and conditions for use and acceptable use policy (, , , )
Upon completion of registration, you will receive verification either directly through the court or via the Armed Forces Criminal Legal Aid Authority. Your verification process mirrors that used by the Ministry of Justice for the Digital Case System (DCS).
Register – Thomson Reuters Case Center
Once verified, you will be able to accept assignments to cases.
MCS Case Center User Guide (, , , )
Where to assign documents on Case Center (, , , )
Where to assign documents on Case Center (, , )
Court Martial and Summary Appeal Court Guidance
Jointly issued under the authority of the Judge Advocate General and the Director of the Military Court Service, these guides assist practitioners throughout the Service Justice System. Volume 1 covers general procedure and addresses all Court Martial and Summary Appeal Court matters. Volume 2 provides specialized guidance for board members.
Court Martial and Summary Appeal Court Guide Vol 1 – January 2026 (, , , )
Court Martial and Summary Appeal Court Guide Vol 2 – January 2026 (, , , )
Practice, procedure, and sentencing guidance are issued by the Judge Advocate General.
Court Martial Appeal Court
The Court Martial Appeal Court convened for the first time at the Catterick Military Court Centre on 9 June 2026.
The proceedings involved four cases presided over by Rt Hon Lord Justice Edis, Mr Justice Griffiths, and Mrs Justice Norton.
The Court Martial Appeal Court initially sat at the Bulford Military Court Centre for its debut on 4 December 2024.
The day’s schedule encompassed three cases heard by Rt Hon Lord Justice Holroyde, Mr Justice Morris, and Mrs Justice Foster.
Apply for a transcript of a Service Court hearing
All Service Court hearings are recorded. Individuals may submit requests for transcripts of these proceedings. Note that the court may refuse to provide parts or entire transcripts when confidentiality concerns exist.
To apply, complete a ( MS Word Document, 50.5 KB ) and submit it via email to mcs-group@mod.gov.uk.
Transcripts may incur fees unless you are a case participant. Following January 1, 2025, the Judge Advocate General will evaluate transcripts containing judicial sentencing remarks where the conviction resulted in dismissal from His Majesty’s Service, with potential publication after a 12‑month period from the date of conviction.
Court Martial sentencing remarks 2025
Court Martial sentencing remarks 2026
Other Judicial Forms
Various judicial forms are available for specific purposes:
- (ODT, 69.5 KB)
- (MS Word Document, 59.5 KB)
- (ODT, 49.5 KB)
- (MS Word Document, 45.6 KB)
- (ODT, 37.4 KB)
- (MS Word Document, 50.5 KB)
- (MS Word Document, 26.4 KB)
- (ODT, 12.4 KB)
- (PDF, 165 KB)
- (MS Word Document, 40.1 KB)
- (ODT, 23.1 KB)
Comprehensive detail is provided for each form within its own entry.
Remote observation of Service Court proceedings
Open justice has historically underpinned public access to hearings, granting rights of entry for reporters and the broader public to observe court sessions.
The controlling legislation resides in section 85A of the Courts Act 2003 as added by section 198 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The framework is enforced by the Remote Observation and Recording (Courts and Tribunals) Regulations 2022. These enable electronic transmission of audio‑visual proceedings for persons not participating in the case.
Applicants seeking permission for remote observation must submit a formal request to the Military Court Service. Applicants are advised to allow a minimum of three clear working days for processing before scheduling.
Military Court Service Remote Observation Application
Practice guidance – Open justice: remote observation of hearings – new powers (PDF, 213 KB)
Medio Virtual Meeting Room User Guide (PDF, 622 KB)
The Court Administration Unit handles administrative inquiries. Email: mcs-group@mod.gov.uk
Contact Information:
| Court Administration Unit Email: mcs-group@mod.gov.uk P |
| Bulford Military Court Centre Email: mcs-bul-groupmailbox@mod.gov.uk P |
| Catterick Military Court Centre Email: cmc-groupmailbox@mod.gov.uk P |
| Court Martial Report Service Email: mcs-cmrs-group@mod.gov.uk P |
