Rhode Island General Laws Title 30. Military Affairs and Defense § 30-13-27. Who may serve on courts-martial

(a) Any commissioned officer of or on duty with the state military forces is eligible to serve on all courts-martial for the trial of any person who may lawfully be brought before these courts for trial.

(b) Any warrant officer of or on duty with the state military forces is eligible to serve on general and special courts-martial for the trial of any person, other than a commissioned officer, who may lawfully be brought before these courts for trial.

(d) When it can be avoided, no person subject to this code may be tried by a court-martial any member of which is junior to that person in rank or grade.

(e) When convening a court-martial, the convening authority shall detail as members thereof such members as, in his or her opinion, are best qualified for duty by reason of age, education, training, experience, length of service, and judicial temperament. No member is eligible to serve as a member of a general or special court-martial when he or she is the accuser or a witness for the prosecution or has acted as investigating officer or as counsel in the same case. If within the command of the convening authority there is present and not otherwise disqualified a commissioned officer who is a member of the bar of the supreme court of the state and of appropriate rank and grade, the convening authority shall appoint that officer as president of a special court-martial. Although this requirement is binding on the convening authority, failure to meet it in any case does not divest a military court of jurisdiction.