What is a summary court-martial's key characteristic?

A summary court-martial is primarily designed to handle minor offenses committed by military personnel. Its streamlined process makes it suitable for cases that do not require the same level of formal proceedings as more serious courts-martial. The goal of a summary court-martial is to efficiently address minor infractions while still providing a degree of due process for the accused.

Unlike other types of courts-martial, a summary court-martial is typically presided over by a single officer who acts in the role of the judge and also handles the matters of evidence and witness testimony. This is indicative of its focus on expediency—aiming to resolve cases quickly rather than involving multiple judges or a jury of military peers. Because of its focus on less severe violations, it does not deal with more significant service-connected crimes, which would be escalated to a general or special court-martial.