Charles D. Ablard
Encyclopedia
Charles D. Ablard is a United States
lawyer
who served as General Counsel of the Army
from 1975 to 1977, and who has been an administrative judge
in the United States Department of Defense
since 2003.
, receiving a bachelor's degree
in business administration and the University of Oklahoma College of Law
, receiving an LL.B. in 1954. From 1954 to 1956, he served as a judge advocate officer in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps, with assignments in Japan
and at the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base
. He then attended the Georgetown University Law Center
, receiving an LL.M. in 1959.
Professionally, Ablard practiced law as a partner in the Washington, D.C.
law firm
of Ablard & Harrison; as General Counsel
and Congressional Liaison for the United States Information Agency
; Vice-President and Counsel for
the Magazine Publishers Association, Inc., and the American Society of Magazine Editors
; Special Counsel to the American Bar Association
's Special Committee on Legal Services and Procedure; and Judicial Officer of the United States Post Office and Chairman of the Post Office's Board of Contract Appeals. In the course of his practice in the 1960s, Ablard became a recognized expert on U.S. administrative law
, and was the founder of the American Bar Association's Administrative Law News newsletter in 1962.
In 1972, Ablard joined the United States Department of Justice
as Associate Deputy Attorney General
. In 1975, President of the United States
Gerald Ford
nominated Ablard to be General Counsel of the Army
and, after Senate confirmation, he held this position from February 25, 1975 until January 19, 1977.
From 1980 to 1984, Ablard was a member of the Board for International Broadcasting
. He later became a partner at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Gage & Tucker.
In 2003, United States Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld
appointed Ablard to the United States Department of Defense
's Office of Hearings and Appeals.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who served as General Counsel of the Army
General Counsel of the Army
The General Counsel of the Army is the General Counsel of the United States Department of the Army and the chief legal counselor of the United States Secretary of the Army...
from 1975 to 1977, and who has been an administrative judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
since 2003.
Biography
Charles D. Ablard was educated at the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, receiving a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration and the University of Oklahoma College of Law
University of Oklahoma College of Law
The University of Oklahoma College of Law is an ABA-certified law school located on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Currently, the College of Law has an enrollment of 527 law students....
, receiving an LL.B. in 1954. From 1954 to 1956, he served as a judge advocate officer in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps, with assignments in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and at the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
. He then attended the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
, receiving an LL.M. in 1959.
Professionally, Ablard practiced law as a partner in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Ablard & Harrison; as General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
and Congressional Liaison for the United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
; Vice-President and Counsel for
the Magazine Publishers Association, Inc., and the American Society of Magazine Editors
American Society of Magazine Editors
The American Society of Magazine Editors is an industry trade group for editors of magazines published in the United States. The group advocates on behalf of member organizations with respect to First Amendment issues, and serves as a networking hub for editors and other industry employees...
; Special Counsel to the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
's Special Committee on Legal Services and Procedure; and Judicial Officer of the United States Post Office and Chairman of the Post Office's Board of Contract Appeals. In the course of his practice in the 1960s, Ablard became a recognized expert on U.S. administrative law
Administrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
, and was the founder of the American Bar Association's Administrative Law News newsletter in 1962.
In 1972, Ablard joined the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
as Associate Deputy Attorney General
Deputy Attorney General
Deputy Attorney General is the second-highest-ranking official in a department of justice or of law, in various governments of the world. In those governments, the Deputy Attorney General oversees the day-to-day operation of the department, and may act as Attorney General during the absence of...
. In 1975, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
nominated Ablard to be General Counsel of the Army
General Counsel of the Army
The General Counsel of the Army is the General Counsel of the United States Department of the Army and the chief legal counselor of the United States Secretary of the Army...
and, after Senate confirmation, he held this position from February 25, 1975 until January 19, 1977.
From 1980 to 1984, Ablard was a member of the Board for International Broadcasting
Board for International Broadcasting
The Board for International Broadcasting is a commission established in the United States as a privately incorporated organization in 1973 by the International Broadcasting Act of 1973, Public Law 93-129, on October 19, 1973. This primarily covered Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , established as...
. He later became a partner at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Gage & Tucker.
In 2003, United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
appointed Ablard to the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
's Office of Hearings and Appeals.
Works by Charles D. Ablard
- "Some Comparisons Between the Council on Tribunals and the Administrative Conference of the United States", The American Journal of Comparative Law (1976)
- "Judicial Review of National Security Decisions: United States and United Kingdom", William and Mary Law Review, Vol. 27, Issue 4 (1986)