10 U.S.C. § 853a

Art. 53a. Plea agreements

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(a)In General.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), at any time before the announcement of findings under section 853 of this title (article 53), the convening authority and the accused may enter into a plea agreement with respect to such matters as—(A) the manner in which the convening authority will dispose of one or more charges and specifications; and(B) limitations on the sentence that may be adjudged for one or more charges and specifications.(2) The military judge of a general or special court-martial may not participate in discussions between the parties concerning prospective terms and conditions of a plea agreement.(3) With respect to charges and specifications over which a special trial counsel exercises authority pursuant to section 824a of this title (article 24a), a plea agreement under this section may only be entered into between a special trial counsel and the accused. Such agreement shall be subject to the same limitations and conditions applicable to other plea agreements under this section (article).(b)Acceptance of Plea Agreement.—Subject to subsection (c), the military judge of a general or special court-martial shall accept a plea agreement submitted by the parties, except that—(1) in the case of an offense with a sentencing parameter set forth in regulations prescribed by the President pursuant to section 539E(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, the military judge may reject a plea agreement that proposes a sentence that is outside the sentencing parameter if the military judge determines that the proposed sentence is plainly unreasonable; and(2) in the case of an offense for which the President has not established a sentencing parameter pursuant to section 539E(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, the military judge may reject a plea agreement that proposes a sentence if the military judge determines that the proposed sentence is plainly unreasonable.(c)Limitation on Acceptance of Plea Agreements.—The military judge of a general or special court-martial shall reject a plea agreement that—(1) contains a provision that has not been accepted by both parties;(2) contains a provision that is not understood by the accused;(3) except as provided in subsection (c), contains a provision for a sentence that is less than the mandatory minimum sentence applicable to an offense referred to in section 856(b)(2) of this title (article 56(b)(2));(4) is prohibited by law; or(5) is contrary to, or is inconsistent with, a regulation prescribed by the President with respect to terms, conditions, or other aspects of plea agreements.(d)Limited Conditions for Acceptance of Plea Agreement for Sentence Below Mandatory Minimum for Certain Offenses.—With respect to an offense referred to in section 856(b)(2) of this title (article 56(b)(2))—(1) the military judge may accept a plea agreement that provides for a sentence of bad conduct discharge; and(2) upon recommendation of the trial counsel, in exchange for substantial assistance by the accused in the investigation or prosecution of another person who has committed an offense, the military judge may accept a plea agreement that provides for a sentence that is less than the mandatory minimum sentence for the offense charged.(e)Binding Effect of Plea Agreement.—Upon acceptance by the military judge of a general or special court-martial, a plea agreement shall bind the parties (including the convening authority and the special trial counsel in the case of a plea agreement entered into under subsection (a)(3)) and the court-martial.(Added Pub. L. 114–328, div. E, title LVII, § 5237, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2917; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title V, § 531(d), title X, § 1081(c)(1)(H), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1384, 1598; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, §§ 539, 539E(b), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1698, 1701.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

Section 539E(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, referred to in subsec. (b), is section 539E(e) of Pub. L. 117–81, which is set out as a note under section 856 of this title.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 117–81, § 539(a)(1), substituted “Subject to paragraph (3), at any time” for “At any time” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 117–81, § 539(a)(2), added par. (3).

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 117–81, § 539E(b), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–81, § 539E(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).

Pub. L. 117–81, § 539(b), inserted “(including the convening authority and the special trial counsel in the case of a plea agreement entered into under subsection (a)(3))” after “parties”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–81, § 539E(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (e).

2017—Subsec. (b)(4), (5). Pub. L. 115–91, § 531(d)(1), added pars. (4) and (5).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–91, § 1081(c)(1)(H), which directed substitution of “court-martial” for “military judge” the second place it appeared, could not be executed because of the prior amendment by Pub. L. 115–91, § 531(d)(2). See below.

Pub. L. 115–91, § 531(d)(2), substituted “shall bind the parties and the court-martial” for “shall bind the parties and the military judge”.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by section 539 of Pub. L. 117–81 effective on the date that is two years after Dec. 27, 2021, and applicable with respect to offenses that occur after that date, with provisions for delayed effect and applicability if regulations are not prescribed by the President before the date that is two years after Dec. 27, 2021, see section 539C of Pub. L. 117–81, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.

Amendment by section 539E(b) of Pub. L. 117–81 effective on the date that is two years after Dec. 27, 2021, and applicable to sentences adjudged in cases in which all findings of guilty are for offenses that occurred after the date that is two years after Dec. 27, 2021, see section 539E(f) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out as a note under section 853 of this title.

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Amendment by section 531(d) of Pub. L. 115–91 effective immediately after the amendments made by div. E (§§ 5001–5542) of Pub. L. 114–328 take effect as provided for in section 5542 of that Act (10 U.S.C. 801 note), see section 531(p) of Pub. L. 115–91, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.

Amendment by section 1081(c)(1)(H) of Pub. L. 115–91 effective immediately after the amendments made by div. E (§§ 5001–5542) of Pub. L. 114–328 take effect as provided for in section 5542 of that Act (10 U.S.C. 801 note), see section 1081(c)(4) of Pub. L. 115–91, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective on Jan. 1, 2019, as designated by the President, with implementing regulations and provisions relating to applicability to various situations, see section 5542 of Pub. L. 114–328 and Ex. Ord. 13825, set out as notes under section 801 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 21 cases (16 in the last 5 years), 2020–2026 · leading case: United States v. Reedy

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United States v. Reedy (2024) afcca · cites it 3× “In those agreements, a convening authority and an accused “may enter into a plea agreement with respect to such matters as—(A) the manner in which the convening authority will dispose of one or more charges and specifications; and (B) limitations on the sentence that may be…”

United States v. Geier (2022) afcca · cites it 3× “ACM S32679 (f rev) UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a, an entirely new article under the Code.”

United States v. Kroetz (2023) afcca · cites it 2× “” Article 53a(a)(1)(B), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(a)(1)(B). The President implemented Article 53a, UCMJ, in Rule for Courts-Martial (R.”

United States v. Barrick (2020) afcca “17 See Article 53a(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(d) (2019 MCM). 17 United States v.”

United States v. Aumont (en banc) (2020) afcca “Because the convening author- ity was not compelled to follow any legacy provisions of Article 60 that predate 25Compare Article 53a(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(d) (2019 MCM), and R.C.M.”

United States v. Lopez (2020) afcca “However, this novel ap- proach to the manner by which agreed-upon sentence limitations are enforced 20Compare Article 53a(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(d) (2019 MCM), and R.C.M.”

United States v. Hernandez (2020) afcca “See Article 53a(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(d); see also R.C.M. 1002(a)(2) (“the court-martial shall sentence the accused in accordance with the limits established by the plea agreement”).”

United States v. Way (2020) afcca “On appeal, in response to Appellant’s assignment of error—whether the convening authority considered Appellant’s clemency submission—the Gov- 9 Appellant’s case involved a PTA, not a “plea agreement” as that term is used in Article 53a, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a, and R.C.M. 705.…”

United States v. Apostol (2021) afcca “See Article 53a(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(d); see also R.C.M. 1002(a)(2) (“[T]he court-martial shall sen- tence the accused in accordance with the limits established by the plea agree- ment.”

United States v. COLLETTI (2024) nmcca “20 The nature of the charge to which an accused pleads guilty, the factual ba- sis for the plea, and the limits of the court’s sentencing authority are all essen- tial parameters of a guilty plea.”

United States v. Mena (2021) afcca “See Article 53a(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(d); see also R.C.M. 1002(a)(2) (“[T]he court-martial shall sentence the accused in accordance with the limits established by the plea agreement.”

United States v. Hong (2021) afcca “Conversely, in cases like Appellant’s where there is a conviction for at least one offense com- mitted after 24 June 2014 and before 1 January 2019 that was referred on or after that date, a PTA may be consequential and the convening authority would be required to follow the…”

Show all 21 citing cases →

— 10 U.S.C. § 853a(1)(A) — 1 case

— 10 U.S.C. § 853a(a)(1) — 1 case

United States v. Williams (2025) afcca

— 10 U.S.C. § 853a(a)(1)(A) — 1 case

United States v. Reedy (2024) afcca “In those agreements, a convening authority and an accused “may enter into a plea agreement with respect to such matters as—(A) the manner in which the convening authority will dispose of one or more charges and specifications; and (B) limitations on the sentence that may be…”

— 10 U.S.C. § 853a(a)(1)(B) — 5 cases

United States v. Kroetz (2023) afcca “” Article 53a(a)(1)(B), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(a)(1)(B). The President implemented Article 53a, UCMJ, in Rule for Courts-Martial (R.”

United States v. Geier (2022) afcca “ACM S32679 (f rev) UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a, an entirely new article under the Code.”

United States v. Conway (2024) afcca

United States v. Dolehanty (2024) afcca

United States v. Moore (2024) afcca

— 10 U.S.C. § 853a(a)(5) — 1 case

United States v. Geier (2022) afcca “ACM S32679 (f rev) UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a, an entirely new article under the Code.”

— 10 U.S.C. § 853a(b)(1) — 1 case

United States v. SANCHEZ (2026) nmcca

— 10 U.S.C. § 853a(b)(4) — 2 cases

United States v. Kroetz (2023) afcca “” Article 53a(a)(1)(B), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(a)(1)(B). The President implemented Article 53a, UCMJ, in Rule for Courts-Martial (R.”

— 10 U.S.C. § 853a(c)(4) — 1 case

United States v. HOKO (2025) nmcca

— 10 U.S.C. § 853a(d) — 8 cases

United States v. Barrick (2020) afcca “17 See Article 53a(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 853a(d) (2019 MCM). 17 United States v.”

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