July 1, 2021

Navigating Post-NJP Actions

Navigating post-nonjudicial punishment (NJP) actions is understandably confusing. It is important to handle modifications to punishment correctly at the command level to ensure compliance with servicemembers’ due process rights. Keep in mind that, for many actions, a command must have an articulated reason for changing the punishment, such as a demonstrated conduct improvement or a determination that the punishment resulted in clear injustice. If a valid reason exists, there are four courses of action that NJP authorities or their successors in command can take under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 15, paragraph 6: suspension, mitigation, remission, and a set aside.

March 22, 2019

Naval District Washington Trains Prosecutors and Investigators

Lt. Amanda Serfess – trial counsel at Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington – trained local JAG community and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) personnel. During two lively lea...

March 13, 2018

JAG Corps 50th Milestones: Military Justice Litigation Career Track

On Dec. 8, 2017, the Navy JAG Corps celebrated its golden anniversary. Throughout this milestone 50th year, we will periodically look back on important breakthroughs and events t...

April 11, 2017

NMCCA Hears Oral Argument at GMU

The Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) heard oral argument in U.S. v. Harris at George Mason University's (GMU) Antonin Scalia Law School on April 6. The NMCCA is the interm...

June 23, 2015

USS Emory S. Land Judge Advocate Engages with Royal Malaysian Navy Legal Officer

Lt. Ryan J. Sylvester, Command Judge Advocate from submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) visits with Legal Officer Lt Cmdr. Mohd Shamsuni of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in one of the RMN...

Sept. 30, 2014

Leadership from the bench

Editor’s note: At a recent judge advocate retirement, the Chief Judge of the Department of the Navy, Capt. Chris Reismeier, gave a keynote address. The following is an adaptation of that speech, which gives a JAG Corps perspective of leadership from...

May 20, 2013

Appellate Government (Code 46)

Washington — If you want a bird’s eye view of the trial process, a tour in an appellate code at Navy-Marine Corps Appellate Review Activity (NAMARA) is a must.

Aug. 14, 2012

Nimitz Holds Courts-Martial at Sea

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) convened the first of four courts-martial at sea June 12. Courts-martial are not typically held on board a ship. The legal team and the judge stood for a photo after the court-martial. From left to right: ABE ...

Nov. 17, 2011

Prosecution, Defense Discuss Arraignment in USS Cole Case

They waited 11 years, but today a planeload of Americans who traveled here earlier this week saw the arraignment of Abd al Rahim Hussein Muhammed al N...

Jan. 15, 2010

Criminal Law (Code 20)

Washington — Most everyone knows Code 20 as the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG) division that sends out the military justice newsmailers. If you’re in a military justice billet, you may also think of us as the office that provides trial and defense counsel assistance. What you may be surprised to learn, however, is that those things are a relatively small – though fun – part of what we do.