Congressional Research Service report on pending reform proposals

The Congressional Research Service recently issued this report on proposals to alter the disposition of offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Might it assist Congress if the report's table of military justice practitioners were expanded to take account of reservists?

Table 2. Active Duty Military Justice Practitioners

Judge Advocates, by Armed Force

Duty Position	Army	Navy	Marine Corps	Air Force	Coast Guard	Total
Defense Counsel	132	53	69	104	8	366
Trial Counsel	128a	45b	72	—	19	342
Military Justice Chief	58	8	41	76	1	184
Military Judge	25	12	12	20	3	72
Appellate Judge	6	5	3	10	3	27
Total	349	123	197	288	34	991

Source: CRS analysis of information provided by JAG legislative liaison officials, December 11, 2020.

Notes: A “trial counsel” is a prosecutor, and a “military justice chief” is a supervisory prosecutor. A “military judge” is a judge advocate who is detailed and designated under 10 U.S.C. §§826, 830. Air Force officials informed CRS that 67% of all the service’s judge advocates notionally are available to serve as trial counsels, but this general data could not be aligned with the specific data provided by other services.

1. Army officials informed CRS that the trial counsel number of 128 is for full-time prosecutors, but there are an additional 130 trial counsels who can prosecute cases as needed.
2. Navy officials informed CRS that the trial counsel number of 45 is for full-time prosecutors, but there are an additional 51 trial counsels who can prosecute cases as needed.