MILITARY JUSTICE PERSONNEL: Staff Judge Advocate: Responsibilities
2008 (Transition)
United
States v. Travis, 66 M.J. 301 (an SJA should
be attentive to whether the
defense intends to submit clemency matters and, where there are clear
indications that the defense intends to submit matters, the SJA need
not rush
to action in the absence of the anticipated clemency material -
particularly
where communications are problematic).
2007
United States v. Canchola, 64 M.J. 245 (where
operational requirements affect post-trial processing delays, staff
judge advocates and convening authorities should ensure that those
reasons are documented in the record of trial).
2000
United
States v. Knight, 53 MJ 340 (where an accused
challenges
the adequacy of his counsel’s trial representation and where he
expresses a
desire to sever his relationship with counsel, a staff judge advocate
who
becomes aware of the potential conflict of interest must notify the
defense
counsel of appellant’s complaint so that the issue of further
representation
can be resolved).
1999
United
States v. Bradley, 51 MJ 437 (staff judge advocate may not
engage in conduct which dissuades defense witnesses from testifying
truthfully
at courts-martial; staff judge advocate’s conversation with a defense
witness
did not result in any prejudice to the accused where, although the
witness
lost some enthusiasm for testifying, she decided to testify and did in
fact testify, and appellant did not show what, if any, testimony was
withheld
by the witness as a result of conversation with staff judge advocate).