Senior officers in the United States military are increasingly confronted with orders and decisions that challenge their oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. Most have likely wrestled with what they would do if such orders were to cross legal boundaries, or their own ethical and moral redlines. When we served as judge advocates, it was our responsibility to advise on the legal demands of and limits on senior officers’ authority and responsibility. We respectfully offer the following thoughts in the hope that they will prove useful to the current generation of senior leaders.
FEATURED IMAGE: A detailed view of the uniform of a senior military member as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at Marine Corps Base Quantico on September 30, 2025 in Quantico, Virginia. In an unprecedented gathering, almost 800 generals, admirals and their senior enlisted leaders have been ordered into one location from around the world on short notice. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
