Appeals Court Rules Judge Had No Authority to Overturn Bowe Bergdahl's Conviction

A US appeals court has ruled that a judge overstepped his authority in overturning ex-soldier Bowe Bergdahl's military conviction. The ruling reinstates Bergdahl's guilty plea.

Appeals Court: Bergdahl's Military Conviction Stands After Judge's Reversal Thrown Out

Google News MT — Crime (en) reports that a United States appeals court has ruled that a federal judge lacked the authority to overturn the military conviction of former soldier Bowe Bergdahl.

Bergdahl, who pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehaviour before the enemy, had his conviction set aside by a lower court judge. The appeals court has now determined that the judge exceeded his jurisdiction in doing so, effectively reinstating the original guilty plea.

Bergdahl was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2009 after walking away from his post and was held for nearly five years before being exchanged for five Taliban detainees in 2014. His case sparked significant controversy in the United States, both over the circumstances of his capture and the terms of his release.

The appeals court ruling means Bergdahl's military conviction, handed down in 2017, is once again legally in force.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)