United States Army Legal Services Agency
| US Army Legal Services Agency | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1973-present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Role | Judge Advocate General |
| Size | Agency |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Belvoir, Virginia |
| Mottos | LEGIBUS ARMISQUE DEVOTI (Devoted To Law and Arms) |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | BG Steven M. Ranieri |
| Insignia | |
| Army Legal Services Agency DUI | |
The United States Army Legal Services Agency (USALSA) is an agency under the Judge Advocate General of the US Army since 1973. This was a result of the Military Justice Act of 1968 that updated the courts and the UCMJ.[1] The USALSA was originally created from the Army Field Operating Agency.[2] Over time the agency has taken command over 20 division, activities, services, etc.[3] including:
- Office of the Chief Judge[4]
- Army Court of Criminal Appeals - 1971: composed of three judicial panels; each panel includes three appellate judges and a commissioner which mirrors the civilian court system.[5]
- Trial Judiciary - 1969: consists of more than 40 active and reserve field grade JAG officers who act as Army military trial judges.[6] It is divided into eight geographical circuits: the 1st Judicial Circuit in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic States; the 2d Judicial Circuit in the mid-Southeast; the 3d Judicial Circuit in the Southeast; the 4th Judicial Circuit in the Upper Far West; the 5th Judicial Circuit in Lower Mid-West, 6th Judicial Circuit in the Pacific Northwest; 7th Judicial Circuit in Hawaii and the Far East, and the 8th Judicial Circuit in Europe and the Middle East. They also publish the Military Judges' Benchbook (DA Pamphlet 27-9)
- Clerk of Court
- New Trials Division
- Regulatory Law Office 1977
- U.S. Army Trial Defense Service (USATDS) 1980: nearly 500 active and reserve JAG officers who are responsible for the defense counsel in courts-martial, UCMJ, Art. 32 investigations, and in other judicial and administrative proceedings.[7]
- Defense Counsel Assistance Program (DCAP) 1982: responsible for training of defense counsels and para-legals.[7]
- Information Management Office 1984
- Army Court Martial Information System 1986
- Litigation Division 1987
- Intellectual Property Division 1988
- Procurement Fraud Division 1988: single centralized organization in the Army that monitors and prosecutes criminal, civil, contractual, and administrative cases of fraud or corruption relating to Army procurement.[8]
- Environmental Law Division 1988
- Standards of Conduct Office 1990
- US Army Claims Service (USARCS) 1997: established to review claims against the Army by those who experienced injury, death, or property damage or loss due to the official actions of Army employees.[9]
References
- ^ "Remarks Upon Signing the Military Justice Act of 1968 | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ "US Army Legal Services Agency". JAG Net. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Army Legal Services Agency Celebrates a Half-Century of Legal Excellence". FORT BELVOIR. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ "U.S. ARMY LEGAL SERVICES AGENCY PATCH (SSI)". The Salute Uniforms. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "Army Court of Criminal Appeals". www.jagcnet.army.mil. Archived from the original on 2025-09-07. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ "Trial Judiciary". www.jagcnet.army.mil. Archived from the original on 2025-05-15. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ a b "Trial Defense Service Public". www.jagcnet.army.mil. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ "Procurement Fraud". www.jagcnet.army.mil. Archived from the original on 2025-09-08. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ "U.S. Army Claims Service". www.jagcnet.army.mil. Retrieved 2025-12-28.