Section 129:
Challenges
(1) At all, trials by general, district or summary general courts-martial, as soon as
the court is assembled, the names of the presiding officer and members shall be read over to the accused
who shall thereupon be asked whether he objects to being tried by any officer sitting on the court.
(2) If the accused objects to any such officer, his objection and also the reply thereto of the officer
objected to, shall be heard and recorded, and the remaining officers of the court shall, in the absence of
the challenged officer decide on the objection.
(3) If the objection is allowed by one-half or more of the votes of the officers entitled to vote, the
objection shall be allowed and the member objected to shall retire, and his vacancy may be filled in the
prescribed manner by another officer, subject to the same right of the accused to object.
(4) When no challenge is made, or when challenge has been made and disallowed or the place of
every officer successfully challenged has been filled by another officer to whom no objection is made or
allowed, the court shall proceed with the trial.