Highest-ranking uniformed lawyer in the United States Department of the Navy
The judge advocate general of the Navy (JAG ) 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.[ 2] The judge advocate general also performs other duties prescribed to him under 10 U.S.C. § 8088 and those prescribed under the Uniform Code of Military Justice .
Duties
The judge advocate general of the Navy, according to the United States Navy Regulations , has three principal roles: Staff Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy , commanding the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), and is Chief of the Judge Advocate General's Corps .
The judge advocate general maintains a close working relationship with the general counsel of the Department of the Navy , the senior civilian lawyer in the Department of the Navy.
The judge advocate general:[ 3]
provides or supervises the provision of all legal advice and related services throughout the Department of the Navy, except for the advice and services provided by the general counsel ;
performs the functions required or authorized by law;
provides legal and policy advice to the secretary of the Navy on military justice , administrative law , claims, operational and international law , and litigation involving these issues, and;
acts on other matters as directed by the secretary of the Navy.
The principal deputy to the JAG is the deputy judge advocate general of the Navy .
Nomination and appointment
The judge advocate general is nominated for appointment by the president with the advice and/or suggestion of the secretary of defense and the secretary of the Navy, and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate . The judge advocate general is appointed to a four-year term of office but they historically serve for three. The judge advocate general has also historically been a naval officer; however, statute states that a Marine officer can be appointed to the position as long as they meet the requirements stated in the section.[ 2]
Previously, the judge advocate general was appointed as a two-star rear admiral . In 2008, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 advanced the position of the judge advocate general to a statutory three-star vice admiral or lieutenant general .[ 4] [ 5] The statutory three-star rank was amended and struck from U.S. law in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 ;[ 6] [ 7] however, the Navy currently still appoints the JAG to that rank.
Other than age and years of military service, there is no other statute of limitations on how many times the JAG can be renominated for appointment to that position if the president so chooses; however, the JAG normally serves one term.
List of judge advocates general of the Navy
No.
Name
Photo
Branch
Term began
Term ended
1
Col William Butler Remey
USMC
1880
1892
2
CAPT Samuel Conrad Lemly
USN
1892
1904
3
CAPT Samuel Willauer Black Diehl
USN
1904
1907
4
CAPT Edward Hale Campbell
USN
1907
1909
5
CAPT Robert Lee Russell
USN
1909
1913
6
CAPT Ridley McLean
USN
1913
1916
7
CAPT William Carleton Watts
USN
1917
1918
8
RADM George Ramsey Clark
USN
1918
1921
9
RADM Julian Lane Latimer
USN
1921
1925
10
RADM Edward Hale Campbell
USN
1925
1929
11
RADM David F. Sellers
USN
1929
1931
12
RADM Orin Gould Murfin
USN
1931
1934
13
RADM Claude C. Bloch
USN
1934
1936
14
RADM Gilbert Jonathan Rowcliff
USN
1936
1938
15
RADM Walter Browne Woodson
USN
1938
1943
16
RADM Thomas Leigh Gatch
USN
1943
1945
17
RADM Oswald Symister Colclough
USN
1945
1948
18
RADM George Lucius Russell
USN
1948
1952
19
RADM Ira Hudson Nunn
USN
1952
1956
20
RADM Chester Charles Ward
USN
1956
1960
21
RADM William Chamberlain Mott
USN
1960
1964
22
RADM Wilfred Asquith Hearn
USN
1964
1968
23
RADM Joseph Bryan McDevitt
USN
1968
1972
24
RADM Merlin Howard Staring
USN
1972
1975
25
RADM Horace Bascomb Robertson Jr.
USN
1975
1976
26
RADM William Owen Miller
USN
1976
1978
27
RADM Charles Eager McDowell
USN
1978
1980
28
RADM John Smith Jenkins
USN
1980
1982
29
RADM James Joseph McHugh
USN
1982
1984
30
RADM Thomas Edward Flynn
USN
1984
1986
31
RADM Hugh Don Campbell
USN
1986
1988
32
RADM Everett Don Stumbaugh
USN
1988
1990
33
RADM John Edward Gordon
USN
1990
1992
34
RADM William Leon Schachte Jr.
USN
1992
1993
35
RADM Harold Eric Grant
USN
1993
1997
36
RADM John Dudley Hutson
USN
1997
2000
37
RADM Donald J. Guter
USN
2000
2002
38
RADM Michael F. Lohr
USN
2002
2004
39
RADM James E. McPherson
USN
2004
2006
40
VADM Bruce E. MacDonald
USN
2006
2009
41
VADM James W. Houck
USN
August 14, 2009
July 20, 2012
42
VADM Nanette M. DeRenzi
USN
July 20, 2012
June 26, 2015
43
VADM James W. Crawford, III
USN
June 26, 2015
September 12, 2018
44
VADM John G. Hannink
USN
September 12, 2018
August 18, 2021
45
VADM Darse E. Crandall Jr.
USN
August 18, 2021
September 5, 2024
46
VADM Christopher C. French
USN
September 5, 2024
Incumbent
See also
Notes
External links
United States Military Judicial Authority
Authority Standards Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG)
Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force Coast Guard
Non-judicial punishment Court systems
Trial Appeal Discretionary review