---
title: O.C.G.A. § 38-2-1059. Effect of error of law on appeal; material prejudice; lesser included offense.
collection: code
id: 38-2-1059
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 38-2-1059 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-2-1059
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-2-1059.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-2-1059/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t37-t39-(v28)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=c6b9c518_0#page=488
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-2.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-2-1058.2.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-2-1060.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MILITARY, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND VETERANS AFFAIRS / MILITARY AFFAIRS / CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE / REVIEW OF COURTS-MARTIAL
---

# O.C.G.A. § 38-2-1059. Effect of error of law on appeal; material prejudice; lesser included offense.

(a) A finding or sentence of a court-martial shall not be held incorrect on the ground of an error of law unless the error materially prejudices the substantial rights of the accused.

(b) Any reviewing authority with the power to approve or affirm a finding of guilty may approve or affirm, instead, so much of the finding as includes a lesser included offense.

## History

Code 1981, § 38-2-1059, enacted by Ga. L. 2015, p. 753, § 1/HB 98.

## U.s. Code.

For similar provision in Uniform Code of Military Justice, see 10 U.S.C. § 859.