(a) Challenges for cause.--The military judge and members of a general or special court-martial may be challenged by the accused or the trial counsel for cause stated to the court. The military judge shall determine the relevancy and validity of challenges for cause and shall not receive a challenge to more than one person at a time. Challenges by the trial counsel shall ordinarily be presented and decided before those by the accused are offered. If exercise of a challenge for cause reduces the court below the minimum number of members required by section 5401 (relating to courts-martial classified), the parties shall, notwithstanding section 5508 (relating to absent and additional members), exercise or waive any challenge for cause against the remaining members of the court before additional members are detailed to the court.

(b) Preemptory challenges.--Each accused and the trial counsel are entitled to one initial peremptory challenge of members of the court. The military judge may not be challenged except for cause. When new members are detailed to the court to meet the minimum number of members required by section 5401 and after any challenges for cause against the new members are presented and decided, each accused and the trial counsel are entitled to one peremptory challenge against members not previously subject to peremptory challenge.