OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL
The role of the Judge Advocate General
The office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG) deals with criminal trials of service men and women in the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force for serious offences (or where the defendant chooses not to be dealt with by the Commanding Officer), which are known as Courts-Martial.
Every Court-Martial trial has a judge on the bench presiding over the conduct of the proceedings and ruling on all legal matters arising, the same as in a civilian Crown Court trial.
Judges who sit in Courts-Martial are known as Judge Advocates. They are always civilians and always legally qualified. Full-time Judge Advocates are appointed by the Lord Chancellor like other District and Circuit Judges.
Military Justice, Courts-Martial and the functions of the Judge Advocate General
Guidance
Courts Martial And The Summary Appeal Court Guidance - Volume 1: Guide to Procedure - Version 3 July 2008 (PDF 252KB)
Directions hearing form 01 January 2008 (.doc 414KB)
Office of the Judge Advocate General Practice Guide 01 January 2008 (PDF 414KB)
Office of the Judge Advocate General Procedure Guide 01 January 2008 (PDF 387KB)
Office of the Judge Advocate General Sentencing Guide (PDF 438KB)
Contacting the Office of the Judge Advocate General
The administrative office forms part of the Royal Courts of Justice Group within HMCS. OJAG staff support the judges in the exercise of their judicial functions.
The Office of the Judge Advocate General is at:
2nd Floor
81 Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1BQ
Telephone: 020 7218 8089
Fax: 020 7218 8094
Email: jenny.norris@jag.gsi.gov.uk
The Military Court Service (MCS) is part of the Ministry of Defence, and maintains seven staffed Military Court Centres at:
Bulford (Wilts)
Catterick (Yorks)
Colchester ( Essex)
Hohne ( Germany)
Osnabrück ( Germany)
Portsmouth (Hants)
Aldergrove ( N Ireland)
MCS arranges, funds and supports trials at these centres and at other venues in UK and overseas. Communications about particular cases must be addressed in the first instance to:
The Military Court Service
Building 59
Trenchard Lines
Upavon
Pewsey
Wilts SN9 6BE
Telephone: 01980 618037
Fax: 01980 618060
Email: LF-AFCS-Group@mod.uk