It would have required a JAG officer for his defense (I was just a commissioned officer with basic training for this level of court). In a General Court, a person could potential receive a death penalty under article 113.

I defended three such cases in Special courts. For this level, the maximum punishment is (I looked this up): "A special court-martial may impose any punishment authorized under R.C.M.1003 except death, dishonorable discharge, dismissal, confinement for more than 1 year, hard labor without confinement for more than 3 months, forfeiture of pay exceeding two-thirds pay per month, or any forfeiture of pay for more than 1 year."

After getting acquittals in two cases, and a dismissal in the 3rd (I presented the battalion commander with good evidence that the accused had narcolepsy), I was no longer given defense counsel assignments, but did sit as a member of a court.