THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON DC 20350-1000

August 21, 2019

 

MEMORANDUM FOR CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS

SUBJECT: Comprehensive Review of the Department of the Navy?s Uniformed Legal
Communities

References: 10 U.S.C. 8046
10 U.S.C. 8088
SECNAVINST 5430.7R 
SECNAVINST 5430.27E
CNO In of 1 Aug 2019

In accordance with my authority and oversight responsibilities under references 
and and consistent with the responsibilities of the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) and
the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (SJA to CMC) as set forth in
reference you are each directed to conduct a comprehensive review of your respective
military legal communities. The advice and services provided by the Navy JAG and Marine
Corps SJ A organizations are essential to the Department?s ability to provide ready and capable
forces and conduct effective combat operations. As such, a periodic review of the readiness of
the JAG and SJ A legal communities is essential to ensure overall warfighting readiness. These
reviews are intended to ensure the Navy JAG and the Marine Corps SJ A legal communities are
organized, manned, trained, and equipped to support the Department?s mission.

The conclusions and recommendations of these reviews will be consolidated into one
report with two sections, one each for the Navy and Marine Corps. I have appointed a group of
experts to an Executive Review Panel. You are directed to establish a working group to support
the Executive Panel in the execution of these reviews.

I expect these reviews to provide detailed recommendations with respect to revising any
relevant statutory and regulatory authorities, policies, resourcing, and any corrective actions
necessary. The scope of this comprehensive review includes: legal community training and
professional development; organization and command relationships including oversight;
efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of legal services; suf?ciency of staf?ng levels; and
evaluation of career progression. This will include any potential effect of the Military Justice
Act of 2016, which began implementation in January 2019. The reviews may expand to
encompass any matter deemed appropriate that is directly related to the organization, leadership
oversight, and performance of the Navy and Marine Corps legal communities. However, the
reviews shall not review or make recommendations regarding substantive matters of military law
including the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In conducting the review, you should seek input
and insights from other services and government agencies, industry, and highly quali?ed experts
outside the government to the extent necessary to ensure the widest possible perspective.

Additionally, reference highlights the existence of prior Navy Judge Advocate
General tasking by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The Navy review should consider the
work the Navy AG is doing as a result of prior tasking, but should not duplicate or
replace that effort. The Marine Corps review should consider the Center for Naval Analysis
efforts to analyze the Marine Corps legal community, but not duplicate or replace that effort.

The plan, methodol?gy. and focus areas for how the Navy and Marine Corps will conduct
their respective assessments are due to me for review within 15 days of this memo.

The results of these reviews will be provided to me via the Chief of Naval Operations and
the Commandant of the Marine Corps within 90 days, unless an extension is requested and
granted. The comprehensive review will have the full support of the entire Navy and Marine
Corps leadership teams.

Rich V. Spencer

cc:
General Counsel of the Navy

Vice Chief of Naval Operations

Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps