Court of Military Appeals Act of 1980

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Court of Military Appeals Act of 1980 - Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to eliminate the mandatory review by Courts of Military Review and the Court of Military Appeals of sentences affecting general or flag officers. Stipulates that such amendment shall not apply to cases begun before the effective date of this Act. Revises provisions relating to status, jurisdiction, membership, organization, procedure, and administration of the Court of Military Appeals. States, with regard to membership, that: (1) the Court shall consist of five members (presently three); (2) a member must be a member of the bar of a Federal court or the highest court of a State; and (3) not more than three members may be appointed from the same political party. Allows any retired judge of such court to become a senior judge and to temporarily perform the duties of an acting judge on such court because of such judge's illness or any vacancy on the court. States with regard to procedure, that: (1) the rules of practice may be prescribed by the Court; (2) the accused has 60 days from (a) the date of notification of the decision of a Court of Military Review, or (b) the date on which the decision of a …