Bullard v. Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.

**Military Court Case Remanded Due to Procedural Error** This case involved a military service member named Bullard who was court-martialed by the U.S. Air Force. After the military trial concluded and a sentence was issued, the case went through the military appeals process. The military appellate court found that the convening authority (a high-ranking military officer responsible for overseeing court-martial proceedings) made a procedural error. Specifically, this officer failed to properly handle the sentence as required by military law (Article 60 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) and a presidential executive order. Because of this mistake, the appellate court sent the case back to the Chief Trial Judge to fix the error and take the proper action on the sentence. **What This Means for Workers:** This case primarily affects military personnel rather than civilian workers. However, it demonstrates an important principle that applies to all employment situations: proper procedures must be followed when imposing discipline or punishment. Whether in military or civilian workplaces, employers must follow established rules and processes when taking action against employees. When they don't, courts can overturn their decisions and require them to start over correctly.