The Corps
Hierarchy of the Corps
Select a position to view its duties and reporting relationships.
Judge Advocate GeneralO-10General
- Rank
- General
- Reports to
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Duties of the office
- Exercise supreme judicial authority and final review over matters accepted for review under the Code.
- Prescribe and maintain the court rules, sentencing guidelines, and professional standards.
- Direct the administration of the Corps and supervise its officers, service offices, and divisions.
- Oversee admission to practice, certification, and the professional standing of military lawyers.
- Exercise the approval and supervisory authorities vested in the office by law.
Deputy Judge Advocate GeneralO-9Lieutenant General
- Rank
- Lieutenant General
- Reports to
- Judge Advocate General.
Duties of the office
- Assist in the administration and supervision of military justice.
- Carry out duties lawfully assigned or delegated by the Judge Advocate General.
- Act for the Judge Advocate General when formally designated and within the limits of that designation.
- Exercise authority independently assigned by the Code, including the applicable approval concerning ranklock.
The Deputy Judge Advocate General does not constitute a separate appellate tier between an Assistant Judge Advocate General and the Judge Advocate General.
Assistant Judge Advocate General for the ArmyO-8Major General
- Rank
- Major General
- Reports to
- Deputy Judge Advocate General; subject to the superior authority of the Judge Advocate General.
Duties of the office
- Exercise appellate jurisdiction over proceedings originating within the Army.
- Affirm, reverse, vacate, modify where expressly authorized, or remand judgments in accordance with the Code.
- Administer the assigned service office and supervise its legal personnel.
- Exercise the approval authorities assigned by the Code, including those concerning reduction in grade, decommissioning, and ranklock.
- Assist the service chief on legal matters as required. Such assistance does not place the office under the service chief’s direction in the exercise of judicial authority.
Supervisory authority shall not dictate a trial motion, evidentiary ruling, finding, or sentence before appellate jurisdiction attaches.
Military JusticeO-6Colonel
- Rank
- Colonel
- Reports to
- Assistant Judge Advocate General for the Army.
Duties of the office
- Administer the trial judiciary of the assigned service through the Chief Military Judge.
- Coordinate judicial assignments, hearing schedules, and court business as lawfully assigned.
- Preserve the independence of each Military Judge in the exercise of original judicial authority.
- Maintain the orderly conduct of judicial proceedings and implementation of court orders.
Chief Military Judge
Colonel · O-6
The Chief Military Judge is the senior officer of the trial judiciary and performs the administrative, supervisory, and assignment duties of Military Justice. The Chief Military Judge may preside over assigned proceedings but does not constitute a separate appellate court over other Military Judges.
Military Judges
Lieutenant Colonel · O-5
Military Judges preside over assigned courts-martial, determine questions of law and fact, rule upon motions and evidence, and enter findings, sentences, judgments, and orders. Administrative supervision shall not direct the disposition of a pending proceeding.
Administration / PersonnelO-5Lieutenant Colonel
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Reports to
- Assistant Judge Advocate General for the Army.
Duties of the office
- Administer the clerical and personnel functions of the service office.
- Receive filings and maintain the docket, hearing calendar, and record of proceedings.
- Issue notices and maintain records of assignments and authorized case access.
- Maintain personnel, certification, appointment, and professional-standing records.
- Preserve exhibits, judgments, and orders, and record authorized releases and required redactions.
The rank shown is that of the division’s head. Other administrative personnel retain the rank held under their service appointment.
Entry of a filing upon the docket does not approve its contents or decide its merits. Administrative access does not confer judicial authority.
Military lawyers
Military LawyerArmy: Specialist or Corporal · Navy: Petty Officer Third Class
- Rank
- Army: Specialist or Corporal · Navy: Petty Officer Third Class
- Reports to
- The assigned service office for personnel and administrative matters.
Duties of the office
- Appear before military courts upon certification or other lawful authorization and appointment to the matter concerned.
- As Government counsel, represent the United States, present lawful charges and evidence, and discharge all applicable disclosure obligations.
- As defense counsel, represent the lawful interests of the accused independently and diligently.
- Prepare pleadings, motions, legal argument, and appellate submissions in accordance with the applicable rules.
- Preserve privileged communications, disclose disqualifying conflicts, and maintain candor toward the court.
A service assignment does not authorize interference with defense counsel’s advice, strategy, motions, defenses, or other professional judgment.
Code of Professional ConductJudicial review
Military Judge
Original proceedings, findings, sentences, judgments, and orders.
Assistant Judge Advocate General
Ordinary appellate review for the service from which the proceeding originated. An appeal authorized by law does not require judicial permission.
Judge Advocate General
Discretionary final review, ordinarily sought by Petition for a Writ of Certiorari. Review may be granted for the whole case or specified questions, orders, or punishments.
Ordinary appeal · Final judicial review · Rules of Practice and Procedure
Admission & certification
Applications for certification as a military lawyer shall be submitted to Corps leadership through the Corps’ Discord server. Candidates may complete the education program and public bar examination; a final examination score of 75% or higher is required to pass.
Certification is conferred upon approval by the authorized officer and entry upon the appropriate record. Passing the examination or receiving access to the case portal does not itself constitute admission to practice.