Courts-Martial Appeals Act, 1983

Legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate.

29.—(1) Where—

(a) a person (in this section referred to as “the accused”) is charged with an offence against military law,

(b) an appeal is brought to the Supreme Court from a determination of the Court in relation to the offence or the punishment (if any) imposed in respect thereof, and

(c) a certificate for free legal aid (in this Part of this Act referred to as “a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate”) is granted in respect of the accused by the Court or under subsection (3) of this section,

the accused shall be entitled to free legal aid in the preparation and conduct of his case in relation to the appeal and to have a solicitor and counsel assigned to him for that purpose in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations under section 33 of this Act.

(2) A legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate shall be granted if (but only if)—

(a) application is made therefor, and

(b) it appears to the Court that the means of the accused are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid.

(3) Where the accused is refused a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate by the Court, he may apply for the certificate to the Supreme Court either—

(a) by letter addressed to the registrar of the Supreme Court setting out the facts of the case and the grounds of the application, or

(b) to the Supreme Court itself,

and the Supreme Court shall grant the certificate if (but only if) it appears to that court that the means of the accused are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid.