U.S. Marine Corps Judge Advocate Division
Encyclopedia
The Judge Advocate Division is the United States Marine Corps
's legal arm, and is subordinate to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy
. The head of the Division is the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) to the Commandant of the Marine Corps
(CMC). Military attorneys (or judge advocates) in the Marine Corps work under the supervision of the SJA to the CMC to advise Marine commanders regarding legal issues including the laws of war
, and to prosecute and defend courts-martial
. Marine Corps lawyers are line officer
s, unlike their counterparts in the United States Navy
and Army
, which means they can fill any officer billet in the Fleet Marine Force
.
s who are also officers in the Marine Corps. Each JA is a line officer in the Marine Corps, and goes through the same initial training as any other Marine officer. Upon graduation from TBS, the Marine attends Naval Justice School
where they are instructed in the fundamental principles of military justice, civil and administrative law, and procedure, with practical application of those principles to the problems inevitably arising within every command, in order to assist in the attainment of a high standard of legal practice and administration of the naval justice and naval disciplinary systems, as well as the naval civil and administrative law system. Upon graduation from the school, the Marine is designated as a Judge Advocate (MOS 4402) and will begin their tour in the Fleet Marine Force as an attorney.
As line officers, Marine JAs can and occasionally do serve in non-legal assignments, including the command of combat units.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
's legal arm, and is subordinate to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy
Judge Advocate General of the Navy
The Judge Advocate General of the Navy is the highest ranking uniformed lawyer in the United States Department of the Navy. The Judge Advocate General is the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations on legal matters pertaining to the Navy...
. The head of the Division is the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) to the Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
(CMC). Military attorneys (or judge advocates) in the Marine Corps work under the supervision of the SJA to the CMC to advise Marine commanders regarding legal issues including the laws of war
Laws of war
The law of war is a body of law concerning acceptable justifications to engage in war and the limits to acceptable wartime conduct...
, and to prosecute and defend 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...
. Marine Corps lawyers are line officer
Line officer
In the United States armed forces, the term line officer or officer of the line refers to an officer who is trained for command — that is, to be the commanding officer of a warship, ground combat unit, combat aviation unit, or combat support unit....
s, unlike their counterparts in the United States Navy
United 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 Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, which means they can fill any officer billet in the Fleet Marine Force
Fleet Marine Force
The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...
.
Subdivisions
The Judge Advocate Division of Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps includes the following branches:- JAI - Information, Plans and Programs
- JAL - Legal Assistance
- JAM - Military Law
- JAO - International and Operational Law
- JAR - Research and Civil Law
- JAS - Judge Advocate Support
- CDC - Chief Defense Counsel of the Marine Corps
Staff Judge Advocates to the Commandant
The list of SJAs to the CMC includes:- Colonel Charles B. Sevier; 1966-1968
- Colonel Marion G. Truesdale; 1968–1969
- Brigadier GeneralBrigadier general (United States)A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Duane L. Faw; 1969–1971 - Brigadier General Clyde R. Mann; 1971–1973
- Brigadier General John R. De Barr; 1973–1976
- Brigadier General Robert J. Chadwick; 1976–1978
- Brigadier General James P. King; 1978–1980
- Brigadier General William H. J. Tiernan; 1980–1983
- Brigadier General Walter J. Donovan; 1983–1985
- Brigadier General David M. BrahmsDavid M. BrahmsDavid M. Brahms is a retired Brigadier General who served in the United States Marine Corps.-Military career:Brahms, a 1959 Harvard College graduate David M. Brahms (born 1938) is a retired Brigadier General who served in the United States Marine Corps.-Military career:Brahms, a 1959 Harvard...
; 1985–1988
- Brigadier General Michael E. Rich; 1988–1990
- Brigadier General Gerald L. Miller; 1990–1993
- Brigadier General Michael C. WholleyMichael C. WholleyMichael C. Wholley is the current General Counsel for NASA and a retired United States Marine Corps brigadier general.-Early life and education:...
; 1993–1996 - Brigadier General Theodore G. Hess; 1996–1999
- Brigadier General Joseph Composto; 1999–2001
- Brigadier General Kevin M. Sandkuhler; 2001–2006
- Brigadier General James C. Walker; 2006–2009
- Major GeneralMajor general (United States)In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Vaughn Ary; 2009-
Marine Corps judge advocates
Marine Corps judge advocates, or JAs, are licensed attorneyAttorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
s who are also officers in the Marine Corps. Each JA is a line officer in the Marine Corps, and goes through the same initial training as any other Marine officer. Upon graduation from TBS, the Marine attends Naval Justice School
Naval Justice School
The Naval Justice School is an educational institution of the United States Navy whose mission is to instruct Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel in the fundamental principles of military justice, civil and administrative law, and procedure...
where they are instructed in the fundamental principles of military justice, civil and administrative law, and procedure, with practical application of those principles to the problems inevitably arising within every command, in order to assist in the attainment of a high standard of legal practice and administration of the naval justice and naval disciplinary systems, as well as the naval civil and administrative law system. Upon graduation from the school, the Marine is designated as a Judge Advocate (MOS 4402) and will begin their tour in the Fleet Marine Force as an attorney.
As line officers, Marine JAs can and occasionally do serve in non-legal assignments, including the command of combat units.
See also
- JAGJAG (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...
(Television Series) - Judge Advocate General's CorpsJudge Advocate General's CorpsJudge 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...
- Military lawMilitary lawMilitary justice is the body of laws and procedures governing members of the armed forces. Many states have separate and distinct bodies of law that govern the conduct of members of their armed forces. Some states use special judicial and other arrangements to enforce those laws, while others use...