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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Jacie Speier, of San Mateo, and two other members of Congress, Bruce Braley (IA) and Patrick Meehan (PA) are pushing for the Military Judicial Reform Act, a bill that would take the power to overturn a conviction away from military commanders and the convening authority.
According to Speier, the current military court system is out of date.
This bill was proposed after suspect Jeremy Goulet shot and killed Sgt. Butch Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler in Santa Cruz Feb. 26, and after several other former military men getting away with sexual assault crimes.
Goulet was previously charged with two counts of rape in Hawaii while in the service. According to former Secretary of Defense Leon Pannetta, he said the military looked the other way rather than serving justice during his speech at the officers' memorial.
Speier said very few cases actually end in conviction because of the current laws.
According to Congressman Bruce Braley from Iowa, no one should be exempted from the laws just because they are in the military.
