Section 31-2B-12 (Amended by Act 2026-289) Command, Wing, and Brigade Judge Advocates; Supervisory Judge Advocates; Duties of Command Judge Advocate, Staff Judge Advocate, and Brigade Judge Advocate.

THIS ACT WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2026-289, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. SEE ACT FOR AMENDED LANGUAGE. (a) Command, Wing, and Brigade Judge Advocates shall provide legal services to Major Military Commands, including MACOM, MAJCOM, and Wing in this state through legal offices and legal sections headed by judge advocates within each MACOM, MAJCOM, and Wing. Judge advocates shall be members of MACOM, MAJCOM, and Wing Commanders’ Staff and are designated as supervisory judge advocates. (b) A Supervisory Judge Advocate shall be a judge advocate within an office or organization with authority over, or responsibility for, the direction, coordination, evaluation, or assignment of responsibilities and work of subordinate lawyers, paralegals, and other non-lawyer assistants within MACOM, MAJCOM, or Wing. (c) The supervisory judge advocates shall include the Command Judge Advocate, Staff Judge Advocate, and the Brigade Judge Advocate as determined by the placement. (d) The Command Judge Advocate, Staff Judge Advocate, and Brigade Judge Advocate shall do all of the following: (1) Advise the commander regarding legal matters and assist the commander in exercising his or her duties as a part of the commander’s personal staff, all under the management and supervision of the respective State Staff Judge Advocate. (2) Assist the commander in identifying legal problems and render legal advice in support of the commander’s decision-making process. (3) Furnish legal advice, assistance, and support across the broad spectrum of military, state, and federal practice, including administrative law, claims, contract, and fiscal law, international and operational law, and military justice; provided, all legal assistance is reserved to the Legal Services Office unless otherwise determined by a State Staff Judge Advocate. (4) Be responsible for the efficient, effective, and ethical delivery of legal services to his or her commanders and commands. (5) Create and maintain rating and supervisory chains that comply with applicable Army standards and ensure effective leadership of all legal personnel of the command legal office. (6) Ensure legal personnel are adequately trained to accomplish the legal mission, including through local training and through attendance at the Judge Advocate Center and School courses, including that all judge advocate attorneys accomplish continuing legal education required by the Alabama State Bar. (7) Appoint and assign duties of the chief paralegal, trial counsel, and Deputy Command Judge Advocate, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, or Deputy Brigade Judge Advocate, as appropriate, with consent of the State Staff Judge Advocate. (8) Maintain written standard office procedures and annex to Operation Order for Command. (9) Maintain proper written reports regarding investigations, separations, and military justice as directed by the Office of General Counsel and State Staff Judge Advocate. (10) Publish an office SOP and OPORD Annex for their respective commands.