BRIEF: Bush Seeks More Control Over Military Lawyers

WASHINGTON, United States – The Boston Globe reports that the Bush administration recently put forth a regulation instituting a new standard of “coordination” for the promotion of members of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps.  Under this standard, the military’s legal wing would now be required to coordinate with a Bush-appointed Pentagon lawyer before being promoted.

Former JAGs criticize the new program, arguing it amounts to a veto power for the administration over any promotion or appointment, and erodes the traditional check on executive power that military lawyers provide.  Critics further argue that military lawyers have objected to the Bush administration’s treatment of detainees and its evasion of the Geneva Conventions, and the administration is now attempting to assert additional control over this group in response.

For more on this topic, please see:

Boston Globe – Control Sought on Military Lawyers – 15 December 2007