The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (USCAAF) is the highest U.S. military court; it reviews decisions of four intermediate military appeals courts (Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Navy-Marine Corps). The United States Supreme Court reviews cases directly from the USCAAF. The USCAAF exercises worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the armed forces on active duty and other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The court is composed of five civilian judges appointed for 15-year terms by the president with the advice and consent of the senate.
On occasion, as part of USCAAF's Project Outreach program, the court will hold arguments at law schools, military bases and other public facilities. This practice was developed as part of a public awareness program to demonstrate the operation of a federal court of appeals and the military criminal justice system. Colorado Law is honored to be a part of the Project Outreach program this year and to host all five judges of the court who will hear oral arguments in the Wolf Law Building on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
The court will hear arguments from counsel in the case United States v. Bowen, a domestic-violence assault case. In addition, CU Law students Patrick Kummerer and Adam Zenger will be will be participating as amicus curiae. Following the hearing, the court will hold a short and informal question-and-answer session with the audience.
A welcome message from Colorado Law Dean Anaya will begin at 2:25 p.m. The oral arguments are expected to finish at 3:30 p.m. with 15 to 20 minutes of Q&A afterward.
