Appointing Authority for Military Commissions

This part establishes the position and office of the Appointing Authority for Military Commissions pursuant to the President's Military Order on the detention, treatment, and trial of certain non-citizens in the war against terrorism; and the DoD Military Commission Order No. 1. It describes the Appointing Authority's responsibilities and functions, relationships with other officials in the Department of Defense, and provides authority for the Appointing Authority to publish issuances necessary to carry out assigned responsibilities, such as supervising the military commission process, appointing military commission members, making sure that the prosecution and defense have the resources necessary to carry out their duties, approving charges against individual detainees, and approving plea agreements. It also describes the responsibilities and functions of the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretaries of the Military Department relative to those of the Appointing Authority in the conduct of military commissions. Publication of this document benefits the public by making the military commission process transparent and demonstrating that the process is complete and fair.