Thoughts for Judge Advocates in Challenging Times

The role of military lawyers — judge advocates — has been a subject of often-intense discussion and debate over the past 18 months.  Judge advocates typically advise commanders on the legal limits the international community and the United States have placed on the nature and conduct of military operations.  Today, as boat strikes in the Caribbean continue to raise serious legal, ethical, and moral concerns; the United States’ invasion of Venezuela and war with Iran cast doubt on the legitimacy and wisdom of our decisions to employ military force; and the rhetoric of our civilian leaders call into question the lawfulness of their military orders, the need for judge advocates and the challenges they face are greater than ever.  As former and retired judge advocates, we watch hopefully as the men and women who still serve as legal advisors meet those needs and challenges.  In a sincere effort to help, we respectfully and humbly offer the following thoughts in the hope that they will prove useful to the current generation of senior leaders, the judge advocates who advise them, and the American people who are also watching anxiously from the sidelines.