P.R. Laws tit. 25, § 2303

2019-02-20 00:00:00+00
§ 2303. Dismissal of officers

(a) If any commissioned officer, dismissed by order of the Governor, makes a written application for trial by court-martial, setting forth, under oath, that he has been wrongfully dismissed, the Governor, as soon as practicable, shall convene a general court-martial to try that officer on the charges on which he was dismissed. A court-martial so convened has jurisdiction to try the dismissed officer on those charges, and he shall be considered to have waived the right to plead any statute of limitations applicable to any offense with which he is charged.

The court-martial may, as part of its sentence, adjudge the affirmance of the dismissal, but if the court-martial acquits the accused or if the sentence adjudged, as finally approved or affirmed, does not include dismissal, the Adjutant General shall substitute for the dismissal ordered by the Governor a form of discharge authorized for administrative issue.

(b) If the Governor fails to convene a court-martial within six (6) months from the presentation of an application for trial under this section, the Adjutant General shall substitute for the dismissal ordered by the Governor a form of discharge authorized for administrative issue.

(c) If an administrative discharge is substituted for a dismissal under this section, the Governor alone may reappoint the officer to such commissioned grade and with such rank as, in the opinion of the Governor, that former officer would have attained had he not been dismissed. The reappointment of such a former officer shall be without regard to the existence of a vacancy and shall affect the promotion status of other officers only insofar as the Governor may direct. All time between the dismissal and the reappointment shall be considered as actual service for all purposes, including the right to pay and allowances.

History —June 23, 1969, No. 62, p. 117, § 402, eff. 90 days after June 23, 1969.