United States v. Rowel

FLETCHER, Chief Judge

(concurring):

I concur in the opinion of the Court with the following additional observation. Our rejection of a portion of paragraph 67f, Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 1969 (Rev.), in United States v. Ware, 1 M.J. 282 (1976), which was dictated by the plain language of Article 62(a), Uniform Code of Military Justice, in practical effect, leaves the Government with no means of appeal from an adverse ruling of the trial judge. Such a void is unhealthy from a judicial administration standpoint. See ABA Standards, Criminal Appeals § 1.4 (1970). Because appeals by the Government in criminal cases are barred absent statutory authorization,1 the immediate need for Congressional action which does not offend the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Constitution 2 should be obvious. See, e. g., 18 U.S.C. § 3731.

. Will v. United States, 389 U.S. 90, 88 S.Ct. 269, 19 L.Ed.2d 305 (1967); Carroll v. United States, 354 U.S. 394, 77 S.Ct. 1332, 1 L.Ed.2d 1442 (1957); United States v. Burroughs, 289 U.S. 159, 53 S.Ct. 574, 77 L.Ed. 1096 (1933).

. United States v. Jorn, 400 U.S. 470, 91 S.Ct. 547, 27 L.Ed.2d 543 (1971); United States v. Sisson, 399 U.S. 267, 90 S.Ct. 2117, 26 L.Ed.2d 608 (1970); Will v. United States, supra.