The Uniform Code of Military Justice, enacted in 1950 after widespread criticism of military justice in the Second World War, created a single civilian appellate court for the armed forces, the Court of Military Appeals, which began work in 1951. It was renamed the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in 1994. Its five judges are civilians, nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate for fifteen-year terms, and no more than three may be from the same political party.
Courts-martial are first reviewed by each service's court of criminal appeals, staffed largely by military judges. The CAAF then reviews cases it chooses to hear, as well as cases that the services' top lawyers certify to it and all death sentences. Its rulings interpret the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the constitutional rights of service members, and since the Military Justice Act of 1983 its decisions can be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
The military justice system has changed significantly in recent years. Reforms enacted in 2021 and 2022 moved decisions to prosecute sexual assault and other serious crimes from commanders to independent military prosecutors, the biggest structural change since the code was adopted. The court operates in the judicial tradition of civilian control of the military while sitting outside the Article III judiciary.
| Status | Active |
| Abbreviation | CAAF |
| Part of | Article I vs. Article III Courts |
| Led by | Chief Judge |
| Legal basis | Uniform Code of Military Justice (1950), 10 U.S.C. 941 |
| Official site | armfor.uscourts.gov |
| Created | 1950 law, began work 1951 |
| Current name | Since 1994 |
| Judges | Five civilians, fifteen-year terms |
| Reviews | Courts-martial from the services' criminal appeals courts |
| Appeals go to | Supreme Court, since 1983 |
| Date | Court of Military Appeals 1951, renamed 1994 |
| Location | 450 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. |