Bud Roberts
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Commander
Bud J. Roberts, Jr. JAGC
, USN (played by Patrick Labyorteaux
) is a character in the JAG
TV series.
, and as an Ensign
was assigned to sea duty aboard the USS Seahawk as the Public Affairs officer under Captain Ross. It was during this role as the PAO aboard the Seahawk, that he first met Lt. Harmon Rabb
, and his partner Lt.(JG) Caitlin Pike
, when they arrived to investigate a murder; this got him interested in a career in law, and it was later Lt.(JG) Meg Austin who recommended him for transfer to JAG prior to her own transfer from JAG staff. He attended law school
in the evenings at George Mason University
and, upon scoring top grades in his finals, was assigned extra legal responsibilities and acted as a trial counsel for special courts-martial
. Sarah MacKenzie
and his wife Harriet Sims
are the only people Roberts will allow to view his law school grades. He, his younger brother Mikey (Michael Bellisario
) and sister Winifred (Winnie) had a somewhat strained relationship with their father, who raised them himself after the death of their mother, due to his sometimes abusive methods of dealing with them. Bud's last meeting with LCDR Rabb prior to his transfer to JAG Headquarters was in the first season episode "Skeleton Crew," when Rabb had been dispatched to investigate the murder of a former Academy classmate (and a love interest).
Roberts is well liked and well respected by everyone at JAG headquarters, and is often considered one of the better trial lawyers there. His success rate in the courtroom is often contributed to his opponents underestimation of him and his abilities (or as Harm had once put it, "Watch out for his "Aw, shucks, I have a lot to learn" routine"). After returning to JAG headquarters following the loss of his leg, Bud was assigned to working Disability cases; he proved his worth to JAG when he investigated and successfully turned in a refusal of benefits when he noticed a sailor damaging his eyes with self-inflicted laser burns. Shortly thereafter, Bud returned to full limited duty in the court room.
Though not the physical type, Bud has been known to become so when the situation demands it; he once caught a punch thrown by his father, and was able to subdue the larger man without difficulty. The incident where his jaw was broken when he stepped between two simultaneous punches from Rabb and the “Australian” officer Lt. Cmdr Mic Brumby outside of an Australian courtroom had more to do with the physical limitations of the human body than lack of physical prowess (at the time of the taping, actor Patrick Labyorteaux had earlier suffered an accident that had broken his jaw, causing it to be wired shut).
LtJG Roberts married Ensign Harriett Sims in 1998. Together, they had five children:
Lieutenant Roberts was assigned as Judge Advocate on the USS Seahawk during the beginning of the War on Terrorism
in 2002. He lost a leg trying to save a boy from a field of landmines in Afghanistan
that year. He was transferred back to JAG HQ after his operation and proving that he was still able to meet the fitness requirements of the US Navy.
Roberts was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander
in 2004 in "Hail and Farewell" Part 1, this was the final act of command of the Judge Advocate General, Rear Admiral A.J. Chegwidden at his dining out. Bud had already been passed over for promotion twice, meaning that if he were to be passed over a third time, he would have been discharged from the Navy.
In the series' final episode, LCDR Roberts chose to remain at JAG HQ after being offered billets by Captain Rabb
and Lt.Col MacKenzie
.
Bud appeared in episode 2 ("Hung Out to Dry") of the JAG spin-off NCIS
. He is the only JAG main-cast character (but not the only character or the only actor) to make such an appearance.
. He had trepidations about this duty, as he was worried that he would be responsible for the deaths of many innocent people. While he was on duty as the Military Aide to the White House, the President whose "nuclear football" he was guarding (George W. Bush
) attended a conference. During this conference, Bud had to go to the bathroom. When he reemerges, the President is gone. Bud then runs the three miles to the White House with the 40 pound nuclear football. This closely resembles a real event, when President Bill Clinton
once left a meeting in such haste that he left behind his military aide, who then ran to the White House.
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Bud J. Roberts, Jr. JAGC
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
, USN (played by Patrick Labyorteaux
Patrick Labyorteaux
Patrick Labyorteaux is an American actor. He is best known for his roles of Andrew Garvey on the NBC series Little House on the Prairie as well as Bud Roberts on the hit CBS series JAG.-Life and career:...
) is a character in the JAG
JAG (TV series)
JAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
TV series.
Story
Son of a retired Master Chief, Roberts joined the NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and as an Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
was assigned to sea duty aboard the USS Seahawk as the Public Affairs officer under Captain Ross. It was during this role as the PAO aboard the Seahawk, that he first met Lt. Harmon Rabb
Harmon Rabb
Captain Harmon 'Harm' Rabb, Jr., JAGC, USN, is a fictional and lead character in the American television series JAG....
, and his partner Lt.(JG) Caitlin Pike
Caitlin Pike
Andrea Parker portrayed Commander Caitlin "Kate" Pike, USN in episodes A New Life, A New Life Part 2, Brig Break, Ares and Touch and Go...
, when they arrived to investigate a murder; this got him interested in a career in law, and it was later Lt.(JG) Meg Austin who recommended him for transfer to JAG prior to her own transfer from JAG staff. He attended law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in the evenings at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
and, upon scoring top grades in his finals, was assigned extra legal responsibilities and acted as a trial counsel for special courts-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
. Sarah MacKenzie
Sarah MacKenzie
Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, JAGC, USMC is one of the main characters in the JAG TV series.In her first appearance on the show and for several seasons, she holds the rank of Major USMC, but is then promoted to Lieutenant...
and his wife Harriet Sims
Harriet Sims
Lieutenant Harriet Beaumont Sims-Roberts, USN is a character in the JAG TV series.Sims first appeared in the second season episode "Crossing the Line" as an Ensign aboard Seahawk, where she had replaced her future husband, Lt. Bud Roberts as the ship's public affairs officer...
are the only people Roberts will allow to view his law school grades. He, his younger brother Mikey (Michael Bellisario
Michael Bellisario
Michael Angelo Bellisario is an American actor and the son of scriptwriter and producer Donald P. Bellisario.Bellisario has mostly had parts in series produced by his father, he played Midshipman Michael "Mikey" Roberts in JAG and also appeared during the first part of NCIS season 3 as Charles...
) and sister Winifred (Winnie) had a somewhat strained relationship with their father, who raised them himself after the death of their mother, due to his sometimes abusive methods of dealing with them. Bud's last meeting with LCDR Rabb prior to his transfer to JAG Headquarters was in the first season episode "Skeleton Crew," when Rabb had been dispatched to investigate the murder of a former Academy classmate (and a love interest).
Roberts is well liked and well respected by everyone at JAG headquarters, and is often considered one of the better trial lawyers there. His success rate in the courtroom is often contributed to his opponents underestimation of him and his abilities (or as Harm had once put it, "Watch out for his "Aw, shucks, I have a lot to learn" routine"). After returning to JAG headquarters following the loss of his leg, Bud was assigned to working Disability cases; he proved his worth to JAG when he investigated and successfully turned in a refusal of benefits when he noticed a sailor damaging his eyes with self-inflicted laser burns. Shortly thereafter, Bud returned to full limited duty in the court room.
Though not the physical type, Bud has been known to become so when the situation demands it; he once caught a punch thrown by his father, and was able to subdue the larger man without difficulty. The incident where his jaw was broken when he stepped between two simultaneous punches from Rabb and the “Australian” officer Lt. Cmdr Mic Brumby outside of an Australian courtroom had more to do with the physical limitations of the human body than lack of physical prowess (at the time of the taping, actor Patrick Labyorteaux had earlier suffered an accident that had broken his jaw, causing it to be wired shut).
LtJG Roberts married Ensign Harriett Sims in 1998. Together, they had five children:
- A.J. Roberts (named in the honor of RAdm A.J. Chegwidden, however not taking his proper first names Albert Jethro.)
- Sarah Roberts (named in the honor of Lt.Col Sarah MacKenzieSarah MacKenzieLieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, JAGC, USMC is one of the main characters in the JAG TV series.In her first appearance on the show and for several seasons, she holds the rank of Major USMC, but is then promoted to Lieutenant...
. (Unfortunately, the child died due to complications in childbirth.) - James Kirk Roberts (Named in the honor of Capt James T. KirkJames T. KirkJames Tiberius "Jim" Kirk is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. Kirk was first played by William Shatner as the principal lead character in the original Star Trek series. Shatner voiced Kirk in the animated Star Trek series and appeared in the first seven Star Trek movies...
) Bud was a big Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
fan. - Unnamed twins (a boy and a girl) born towards the end of the series (girl is called Nikki in episode Straits of Malacca).
Lieutenant Roberts was assigned as Judge Advocate on the USS Seahawk during the beginning of the War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
in 2002. He lost a leg trying to save a boy from a field of landmines in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
that year. He was transferred back to JAG HQ after his operation and proving that he was still able to meet the fitness requirements of the US Navy.
Roberts was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in 2004 in "Hail and Farewell" Part 1, this was the final act of command of the Judge Advocate General, Rear Admiral A.J. Chegwidden at his dining out. Bud had already been passed over for promotion twice, meaning that if he were to be passed over a third time, he would have been discharged from the Navy.
In the series' final episode, LCDR Roberts chose to remain at JAG HQ after being offered billets by Captain Rabb
Harmon Rabb
Captain Harmon 'Harm' Rabb, Jr., JAGC, USN, is a fictional and lead character in the American television series JAG....
and Lt.Col MacKenzie
Sarah MacKenzie
Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, JAGC, USMC is one of the main characters in the JAG TV series.In her first appearance on the show and for several seasons, she holds the rank of Major USMC, but is then promoted to Lieutenant...
.
Bud appeared in episode 2 ("Hung Out to Dry") of the JAG spin-off NCIS
NCIS (TV series)
NCIS, formerly known as NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is an American police procedural drama television series revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S...
. He is the only JAG main-cast character (but not the only character or the only actor) to make such an appearance.
Bud's Awards and Decorations
| Purple Heart Purple Heart The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York... |
Navy Unit Commendation Navy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944... |
National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... w/ 1 service star Service star A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service... |
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,... |
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003... |
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon Sea Service Ribbon A Sea Service Ribbon is an award of the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and the United States Army which recognizes those service members who have performed military duty while stationed on a vessel at sea.... |
- Bud was awarded the Purple Heart after stepping on a landmine, and losing his right leg.
Nuclear Football
In one episode, Lieutenant Roberts was selected to carry the nuclear footballNuclear football
The nuclear football is a briefcase, the contents of which are to be used by the President of the United States of America to authorize a nuclear attack while away from fixed command centers, such as the White House Situation Room...
. He had trepidations about this duty, as he was worried that he would be responsible for the deaths of many innocent people. While he was on duty as the Military Aide to the White House, the President whose "nuclear football" he was guarding (George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
) attended a conference. During this conference, Bud had to go to the bathroom. When he reemerges, the President is gone. Bud then runs the three miles to the White House with the 40 pound nuclear football. This closely resembles a real event, when President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
once left a meeting in such haste that he left behind his military aide, who then ran to the White House.