1. A person punished under NRS 412.286 to 412.302, inclusive, who considers his or her punishment unjust or disproportionate to the offense may, through the proper channel, appeal to the next superior authority. The appeal shall be promptly forwarded and decided, but the person punished may in the meantime be required to undergo the punishment adjudged. The superior authority may exercise the same powers with respect to the punishment imposed as may be exercised under NRS 412.294 by the officer who imposed the punishment. Before acting on an appeal from a punishment of:

(a) Suspension or forfeiture of pay for more than two drill periods or 14 days; or

(b) Reduction of one or more pay grades,

the authority who is to act on the appeal shall refer the case to the State Judge Advocate for consideration and advice, and may so refer the case upon appeal from any punishment imposed under NRS 412.288.

2. Appeals of nonjudicial punishment must be made to the next superior authority. The next superior authority is typically the commanding officer superior to the commanding officer who imposed the punishment. When a principal assistant imposes nonjudicial punishment, the next superior authority is the commanding officer superior to the commanding officer who delegated the power to the principal assistant to impose punishment.

3. Only one appeal is allowed pursuant to this section.

4. The accused must be given a reasonable time within which to submit an appeal. A reasonable time is 30 days after imposition of the nonjudicial punishment or the time before the next monthly drill following imposition of the punishment, whichever comes later.

5. A superior authority to the commanding officer who imposed the nonjudicial punishment, typically the next superior commanding officer, may act on an appeal.

6. Appeals must be in writing on applicable forms provided by the Office of the State Judge Advocate and must set forth the reasons for appeal and include additional documentation and evidence supporting the appeal. The superior authority may not consider additional evidence which was not presented to the commanding officer who imposed the nonjudicial punishment unless the exclusion of such evidence would yield an unjust result.

7. Before acting on an appeal, the superior authority shall refer the case to a judge advocate for consideration and advice. The judge advocate shall render an opinion as to the appropriateness of the punishment and whether the proceedings were conducted in accordance with law and regulations. When a case is so referred, the judge advocate is not limited to an examination of any written matter comprising the record of proceedings, and may make any inquiries and examine any additional matter deemed necessary.

8. In acting on an appeal, the superior authority may exercise the same power with respect to punishment imposed as may be exercised by the officer who imposed the nonjudicial punishment. The superior authority shall consider the record of proceedings, any matters submitted by the serviceman or servicewoman, any matters considered during legal review and any other appropriate matters. If the superior authority sets aside nonjudicial punishment due to procedural error, such superior authority may authorize additional proceedings by the imposing commanding officer or a successor, but the punishment shall be not more severe than that originally imposed. Upon completion of action by the superior authority, the accused must be promptly notified of the results.

(Added to NRS by 1967, 1315; A 2013, 1117)