ENROLLED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 6
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES OWEN
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To authorize and direct the Louisiana National Guard to study its Rules of Court that could
result in nonunanimous verdicts in court-martial findings and to provide remedial
proposals for legislation.
WHEREAS, the Louisiana National Guard is a military service composed of the
Louisiana Army National Guard, the Louisiana Air National Guard, and the Louisiana State
Guard governed by the provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and led
by an adjutant general appointed by the governor of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the UCMJ is the foundation for military law that outlines criminal
offenses and defines the military justice system; and
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana, as a sovereign state with significant
independence from the federal government, provides a Uniform Code of Military Justice in
Title 29 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 that models the UCMJ; and
WHEREAS, the articles of the UCMJ maintain provisions which could result in
nonunanimous verdicts in court-martial findings; and
WHEREAS, in the case of Ramos v. Louisiana, 140 S. Ct. 1390, 206 L.Ed.2d 583
(2020), unanimous verdicts are required in all jurisdictions of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana intends to enforce the decision in Ramos v.
Louisiana, 140 S. Ct. 1390, 206 L.Ed.2d 583 (2020) pursuant to the laws of this state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
authorize and direct the adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard to conduct a study
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to determine whether the Uniform Code of Military Justice authorizes nonunanimous
verdicts and provide findings and recommendations to remedy such conflict of law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
governor and the adjutant general.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that one print copy and one electronic copy of any
report produced pursuant to this Resolution shall be submitted to the David R. Poynter
Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:772.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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