Reviewed by Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556, for ThaiLawOnline, a Thai law firm acting for foreigners since 2006.
Update log
- 4 November 2026: Added the statute box with Thai, English and French text and checked the page against the official text
Thailand has a second criminal court system, run by the Ministry of Defence. In normal times it tries soldiers. After the 2014 coup it also tried civilians for offences committed between May 2014 and September 2016, and some of those trials ran until 2019. Civilians tried for acts done while martial law was in force had no right of appeal at all.
A common worry comes from civilians, not soldiers: will a case involving a soldier be heard in a military courtroom? Usually it will not, because of one rule.
Table of Contents
Who a military court tries
A military court tries criminal cases against people who were subject to military jurisdiction when the offence happened. In practice that means serving members of the armed forces. It applies the same criminal law as any other court, plus the military penal law. The Constitution lists military courts as one of Thailand’s four court systems, next to the Constitutional Court, the administrative courts and the ordinary courts of justice.
Discipline is a separate matter. Minor military breaches are handled by commanders under military discipline rules, with punishments such as extra duty or confinement, and never reach a court.
The law behind this page
English
Section 199 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560
Full text
The Military Courts shall have the power to try and adjudicate criminal cases in which the offender is a person subject to the jurisdiction of the Military Courts, and other cases; all of this shall be as provided by law. The establishment, the trial procedure and the operation of the Military Courts, as well as the appointment and removal from office of military judges, shall be as provided by law.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 194 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560
Full text
The Courts of Justice have the power to try and adjudicate all cases, except cases that the Constitution or the law places within the jurisdiction of another court. The establishment, procedure and operation of the Courts of Justice shall be in accordance with the law on that matter.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 10 Juvenile and Family Court Act B.E. 2553
Full text
The Juvenile and Family Court shall have the power to try and adjudicate, or make orders in, the following cases: (1) criminal cases in which a child or juvenile is charged with committing an offence; (2) criminal cases transferred by a court having jurisdiction to try ordinary cases under section 97 paragraph one; (3) family cases; (4) welfare protection cases; (5) other cases which a law provides to be within the powers and duties of the Juvenile and Family Court.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 192 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560
Full text
In the case where a problem arises concerning the duties and powers as between the Courts of Justice, the Administrative Courts or the Military Courts, it shall be considered and decided by a committee consisting of the President of the Supreme Court as Chairperson, the President of the Supreme Administrative Court, the Head of the Military Judicial Office and not more than four other qualified persons, as provided by law, as members. The rules and procedure for deciding a problem concerning the duties and powers as between courts under paragraph one shall be as provided by law.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 193 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560
Full text
Each court, except the Military Courts, shall have an agency responsible for administrative affairs which is independent in personnel administration, budgeting and other operations, with one head of the agency as the superior directly answerable to the President of each court; all of this shall be as provided by law. The Courts of Justice and the Administrative Courts shall have a specific salary and remuneration system as appropriate, as provided by law.
ThaiLawOnline translation
ไทย
มาตรา 199 รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พ.ศ. 2560
ข้อความเต็ม
ศาลทหารมีอำนาจพิจารณาพิพากษาคดีอาญาที่ผู้กระทำความผิดเป็นบุคคลซึ่งอยู่ในอำนาจศาลทหารและคดีอื่น ทั้งนี้ ตามที่กฎหมายบัญญัติ การจัดตั้ง วิธีพิจารณาคดี และการดำเนินงานของศาลทหาร ตลอดจนการแต่งตั้งและการให้ตุลาการศาลทหารพ้นจากตำแหน่ง ให้เป็นไปตามที่กฎหมายบัญญัติ
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 194 รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พ.ศ. 2560
ข้อความเต็ม
ศาลยุติธรรมมีอำนาจพิจารณาพิพากษาคดีทั้งปวง เว้นแต่คดีที่รัฐธรรมนูญหรือกฎหมายบัญญัติให้อยู่ในอำนาจของศาลอื่น การจัดตั้ง วิธีพิจารณาคดี และการดำเนินงานของศาลยุติธรรมให้เป็นไปตามกฎหมายว่าด้วยการนั้น
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 10 พระราชบัญญัติศาลเยาวชนและครอบครัวและวิธีพิจารณาคดีเยาวชนและครอบครัว พ.ศ. 2553
ข้อความเต็ม
ศาลเยาวชนและครอบครัวมีอำนาจพิจารณาพิพากษาหรือมีคำสั่งในคดี ดังต่อไปนี้ (๑) คดีอาญาที่มีข้อหาว่าเด็กหรือเยาวชนกระทำความผิด (๒) คดีอาญาที่ศาลซึ่งมีอำนาจพิจารณาคดีธรรมดาได้โอนมาตามมาตรา ๙๗ วรรคหนึ่ง (๓) คดีครอบครัว (๔) คดีคุ้มครองสวัสดิภาพ (๕) คดีอื่นที่มีกฎหมายบัญญัติให้เป็นอำนาจหน้าที่ของศาลเยาวชนและครอบครัว
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 192 รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พ.ศ. 2560
ข้อความเต็ม
ในกรณีที่มีปัญหาเกี่ยวกับหน้าที่และอำนาจระหว่างศาลยุติธรรม ศาลปกครอง หรือศาลทหาร ให้พิจารณาวินิจฉัยชี้ขาดโดยคณะกรรมการซึ่งประกอบด้วยประธานศาลฎีกาเป็นประธาน ประธานศาลปกครองสูงสุด หัวหน้าสำนักตุลาการทหาร และผู้ทรงคุณวุฒิอื่นอีกไม่เกินสี่คนตามที่กฎหมายบัญญัติเป็นกรรมการ หลักเกณฑ์และวิธีการชี้ขาดปัญหาเกี่ยวกับหน้าที่และอำนาจระหว่างศาลตามวรรคหนึ่ง ให้เป็นไปตามที่กฎหมายบัญญัติ
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 193 รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พ.ศ. 2560
ข้อความเต็ม
ให้แต่ละศาล ยกเว้นศาลทหาร มีหน่วยงานที่รับผิดชอบงานธุรการที่มีความเป็นอิสระในการบริหารงานบุคคล การงบประมาณ และการดำเนินการอื่น โดยให้มีหัวหน้าหน่วยงานคนหนึ่งเป็นผู้บังคับบัญชาขึ้นตรงต่อประธานของแต่ละศาล ทั้งนี้ ตามที่กฎหมายบัญญัติ ให้ศาลยุติธรรมและศาลปกครองมีระบบเงินเดือนและค่าตอบแทนเป็นการเฉพาะตามความเหมาะสมตามที่กฎหมายบัญญัติ
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
Français
Article 199 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560
Les tribunaux militaires jugent les affaires pénales dont l'auteur relève de leur compétence, ainsi que d'autres affaires, selon la loi. Leur création, leur procédure, leur fonctionnement, ainsi que la nomination et la révocation des juges militaires, sont régis par la loi.
résumé non officiel
Article 194 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560
Les tribunaux judiciaires jugent toutes les affaires, sauf celles que la Constitution ou la loi attribue à un autre tribunal; leur organisation, leur procédure et leur fonctionnement sont régis par la loi applicable.
résumé non officiel
Article 10 Juvenile and Family Court Act B.E. 2553
Le tribunal de la jeunesse et de la famille juge ou statue sur : (1) les affaires pénales où un enfant ou un jeune est accusé d'une infraction ; (2) les affaires pénales transférées par un tribunal ordinaire selon l'article 97, alinéa 1 ; (3) les affaires familiales ; (4) les affaires de protection du bien-être ; (5) les autres affaires que la loi lui attribue.
résumé non officiel
Article 192 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560
Les conflits de compétence entre les tribunaux judiciaires, administratifs ou militaires sont tranchés par un comité présidé par le président de la Cour suprême, comprenant le président de la Cour administrative suprême, le chef du Bureau judiciaire militaire et au plus quatre autres personnalités qualifiées prévues par la loi. Les règles et la procédure de décision sont fixées par la loi.
résumé non officiel
Article 193 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560
Chaque tribunal, sauf les tribunaux militaires, dispose d'un service administratif indépendant en matière de personnel, de budget et d'autres opérations, dirigé par un chef relevant directement du président de ce tribunal, selon la loi. Les tribunaux judiciaires et administratifs ont un régime propre de traitements et de rémunérations, approprié et prévu par la loi.
résumé non officiel
Sources
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560, retrieved 4 November 2026
- Juvenile and Family Court Act B.E. 2553, retrieved 4 November 2026
A soldier and a civilian in the same case
The law takes a case out of the military court when a soldier offended together with a civilian, when it is connected with a case already in a civilian court, or when it belongs in the juvenile and family court. Those cases go to the ordinary courts.
The Supreme Court reads “together” widely. In decision 1684/2521 a soldier and a civilian who fought each other were held to have offended together, so the civilian court had jurisdiction. In decision 1104/2513 two drivers, one a soldier, were each careless in the same collision, and the case again belonged in the civilian court. In decision 4147/2541 the Court added that once a civilian court has accepted a charge, it can decide the case even if military jurisdiction appears later.
So if you are a civilian and the other side is in uniform, expect the ordinary criminal court. Check it early anyway. A jurisdiction point is far easier to raise at the start than after evidence has been heard.
How the courts are set up
There are three levels in normal times: a first instance court, the Central Military Court and the Supreme Military Court. A first instance panel has three judges. Two are officers appointed by the commander, who need no legal training. One is a legally trained military judge. The two higher courts sit as five. All of them work under the Ministry of Defence rather than the judiciary.
Procedure follows military law first. Where military law is silent, the ordinary criminal procedure rules apply.
Martial law and war
In abnormal times, meaning war or martial law, two things change. The martial law authority can add other offences to the military courts’ work. And no appeal at all is allowed from a military court sitting in those times.
That second rule is what hurt civilians after the coup of 22 May 2014. Martial law was declared nationwide on 20 May 2014 and lifted for most of the country on 1 April 2015. Civilians charged for acts done while it was in force had one trial and no appeal.
Civilians in military courts, 2014 to 2019
Days after the coup, the National Council for Peace and Order sent several kinds of civilian cases to the military courts: offences against the monarchy, offences against internal security, breaches of the council’s own orders, and, under a later announcement, offences involving weapons of war. Connected offences went with them. Children and young people stayed in the juvenile and family court.
On 12 September 2016 the head of the council ended this for offences committed from that date. Cases already started stayed where they were. On 9 July 2019 a further order repealed the announcements and moved the remaining civilian cases to the ordinary courts. Human rights groups counted more than 2,000 civilians tried in military courts over those five years.
The Constitutional Court has never ruled on the announcement that sent civilians to military courts. In 2015 the Bangkok Military Court refused to refer the question, saying the interim constitution had made the announcements valid. The closest Constitutional Court ruling is a different one. In ruling 30/2563 of 2 December 2020, the Constitutional Court held that the criminal penalties for failing to report to the council, under two of its announcements, were contrary to the Constitution. That ruling concerned the reporting orders only.
What defendants faced in practice
Groups that monitored these trials, including Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and Amnesty International, reported that military courts refused bail more often, gave heavier sentences in monarchy cases, and closed hearings to the public in sensitive cases. They also reported long gaps between hearings. These are the groups’ findings, not rules written in the law.
If you are preparing for a military court today, plan for that history. Prepare bail papers in more depth than usual, keep a full trial record from day one, and raise any jurisdiction point at the first hearing.
The reform bill
The government sent a bill to amend the Military Court Act to the House in July 2025. The House passed it on 2 September 2026, and the Senate accepted it in principle on 14 September 2026. It is not law yet. It would abolish the military province courts, let victims who are not soldiers bring their own case in a military court, and allow one appeal against a judgment given under martial law, though still not in war. Cases that military prosecutors filed before it takes effect would stay under the old rules. Until it appears in the Royal Gazette, the 1955 law as amended applies.
If you are summoned or charged
Ask straight away which court the case is in and why. If you are a foreigner, ask for an interpreter and tell your embassy. Do not sign a statement you cannot read. Our guides to the police interview in Thailand, bail in Thailand and appeals to the Supreme Court cover the next steps, and our criminal law page explains how we defend cases. Conscripts and their families may also want our page on military service in Thailand.
To talk about your case, contact us or email info@thailawonline.com.
Common questions
Can a civilian be tried in a Thai military court today?
Not in normal times. Military courts try people who were subject to military jurisdiction when the offence happened, mainly soldiers. Civilians were tried there for offences committed between May 2014 and 12 September 2016, and the remaining cases moved to the ordinary courts in July 2019. Under martial law or in war, the martial law authority can extend military jurisdiction again.
What happens if a soldier and a civilian commit an offence together?
The case goes to the ordinary criminal court, not the military court. The Supreme Court reads offending together widely, for example a soldier and a civilian who fought each other.
Can you appeal a Thai military court judgment?
In normal times, yes, to the Central Military Court and then the Supreme Military Court. No appeal is allowed from a military court sitting under martial law or in war.
Are military court judges lawyers?
Not all of them. At first instance, two of the three judges are officers who need no legal training, and one is a legally trained military judge.
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