[1] : Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

court martial. a court authorized by the articles of war, for the trial of 
all offenders in the army or navy, for military offences. article 64, 
directs that general courts martial may consist of any number of 
commissioned officers, from five to thirteen, inclusively; but they shall 
not consist of less than thirteen, where the number can be convened, without 
manifest injury to the service. 
     2. the decision of the commanding officer who appoints the court, as to 
the number that can be convened without injury to the service, is 
conclusive. 12 wheat. r. 19. such a court has not jurisdiction over a 
citizen of the united states not employed in military service 12 john. r. 
257. it has merely a limited jurisdiction, and to render its jurisdiction 
valid, it must appear to have acted within such jurisdiction. 3 s.  r. 590 
11 pick. r. 442; 19 john. r. 7; 1 rawle, r. 143. 
     3. a court martial must have jurisdiction over the subject matter of 
inquiry, and over the person for a want of these will render its judgment 
null, and the members of the court and the officers who execute its 
sentence, trespassers. 3 cranch, 331. see 5 wheat. 1; 12 wheat. 19; 1 brock. 
324. vide gord. dig. laws u. s., art. 3331 to 3357; 2 story,. l. u. s. 1000; 
and also the treatises of adye, delafon, hough, j. kennedy, m. v. kennedy, 
mcarthur, mcnaghten, simmons and tyler on courts martial; and 19 john. r, 7; 
12 john. r. 257; 20 john. r. 343; 5 wheat. r. 1; 1 u. s. dig. tit. courts, 
v. 

Court Martial >> C Words
Court Martial, definition of term: Court Martial
court+martial_pag1.html

Court >> C Words
Court, definition of term: Court
court_pag1.html

Court Marshal >> C Words
Court Marshal, definition of term: Court Marshal
court+marshal_pag1.html

Circuit Court >> C Words
Circuit Court, definition of term: Circuit Court
circuit+court_pag1.html

Appellate Court >> A Words
Appellate Court, definition of term: Appellate Court
appellate+court_pag1.html

Appeals Court >> A Words
Appeals Court, definition of term: Appeals Court
appeals+court_pag1.html

Court Of Record >> C Words
Court Of Record, definition of term: Court Of Record
court+of+record_pag1.html

Court Of Appeal >> C Words
Court Of Appeal, definition of term: Court Of Appeal
court+of+appeal_pag1.html

Court Of Common >> C Words
Court Of Common, definition of term: Court Of Common
court+of+common_pag1.html