The Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is an office established under the Defence Force Discipline Act (1982). This position is held by a judge or former judge of a federal court or a state supreme court. The appointment of the JAG is made by the Governor-General-in-Council. The JAG has the authority to establish procedural rules for tribunals operating within the Navy, Army, and Air Force. They also conduct the final legal review of proceedings within the ADF and play a role in the appointment of judge advocates, Defence Force magistrates, presidents, and members of courts martial, as well as legal officers for various purposes. Additionally, the JAG is responsible for reporting on the operation of laws concerning the discipline of the ADF.[1]
The current Judge Advocate General is Rear Admiral the Hon Jack Rush RFD QC RAN.
The JAG is assisted by three deputy judge advocates general (DJAG), one for each service:
- DJAG – Navy
- DJAG – Army
- DJAG – Air Force
The current Deputy Judge Advocates General are:[2]
- Navy: Commodore J.T. Rush RFD RAN
- Army: Brigadier Judge Paul E. Smith
- Air Force: Air Commodore Judge GB Lerve
- ^ "About the Judge Advocate General". Department of Defence. Australian Government. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "Deputy Judge Advocates General". Department of Defence. 7 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.