An Act to establish a Judge Advocate Generals Corps in the Navy, and for other purposes
PL 90-179 (H.R.12910), enacted 12/08/1967

77 Stat. 613. 
81 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 90-179-DEC. 8, 1967 
545 
(3) (A) The following new section shall be added at the end: 
"§11-705. Assignment of judges; divisions; hearings 
"(a) Judges of the court shall sit on the court and its divisions in 
such order and at such times as the court directs. 
"(b) (1) Cases and controvei'sies shall be heard and determined by 
divisions of the court unless a hearing or rehearing before the court 
in banc is ordered. Each division of the court shall consist of three 
judges. 
''(2) A hearing before the court in banc may be ordered by a 
majority of the judges of the court in regular active service. The 
court in banc for a hearing shall consist of the judges of the court 
in regular active service. 
"'(3) A rehearing before the court in banc may be ordered by a 
majority of the judges of the court in regular active service. The 
court in banc for a rehearing shall consist of the judges of the court in 
regular active service, except that a retired judge may sit as a judge 
of the court in banc in the rehearing of a case or controversy if he sat 
on the court or a division of the court at the original hearing thereof." 
(B) The table of sections is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item: 
"11-705. Assignment of judges ; divisions ; hearings." 
SE€. 2. (a) The first sentence of section 17-301 (b) of the District 
of Columbia Code is amended by striking out "the chief judge and 
the associate judges" and inserting in lieu thereof "three judges . 
(b) Tlie fourth sentence of such section is amended by striking out 
"all the judges are of the opinion that an" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"the three judges are of the opinion that the". 
Approved December 8, 1967. 
Public Law 90-179 
AN ACT 
December 8, 1967 
To establish a .Judge Advocate General's Corps in the Xavy, and for other 
[H. R. 12910] 
l>tir 
poses. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatires 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That chapter 47 of 
^^^' ^^TCocate 
title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
General's corps. 
(1) Section 801(11) is amended to read as follows: 
Establishment. 
"(11) 'Law specialist' means a commissioned officer of the Coast 
oefinmons. 
Guard designated for special duty (law)." 
(2) The following new clause is added at the end of section 801: 
"(13) 'Judge advocate' means an officer of the Judge Advocate 
General's Corps of the Army or the Navy or an officer of the Air Force 
or the Marine Corps who is designated as a judge advocate." 
(3) Section 806(a) is amended by deleting the first sentence and 
inserting the following sentences in place thereof: 
"The assignment for duty of judge advocates of the Army, Xavy, 
and Air Force and law specialists of the Coast Guard shall be made 
upon the recommendation of the Judge Advocate General of the armed 
force of M'hich they are members. The assignment for duty of judge 
advocates of the Marine Corps shall be made by direction of the 
C^ommandant of the Marine Corps." 
(4) Section 815(e) is amended by striking out tlie words "Army or 
Air Force, a law specialist of the Navy" in the last sentence and sub-
stituting in place thereof the words "Army, Navy, Air Force, or 
Marine Corps". 
546 
PUBLIC LAW 90-179-DEC. 8, 1967 
[81 STAT. 
70Astat. 46. 
(5) gectlon 827(b) (1) is amended by strikinjr out the words ''or 
the Air Force, or a law specialist of the Xavy or" and inserting in 
place thereof the words ", Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps or a law 
specialist of the". 
(6) Section 865(c) is amended by striking out the words "or the 
Air Force, a law specialist of the Navy" and inserting in place thereof 
the words ", Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps". 
(7) Section 936(a) (1) is amended by deleting the words "and the 
Air Force" and inserting in place thereof the words ", Navy, Air Force, 
and Marine Corps". 
SEC. 2. Chapter 513 of title 10, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) Section 5148 is amended— 
(A) by amending the catchline to read: 
"§5148. Judge Advocate General's Corps: Office of the Judge 
Advocate General; Judge Advocate General; appoint-
ment, term, emoluments, duties"; 
(B) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), and (c) as sub-
sections (b), (c), and (d), respectively, and inserting the follow-
ing new subsection: 
"(a) The Judge Advocate General's Corps is a Staff Corps of the 
Navy, and shall be organized in accordance with regulations prescribed 
by the Secretary of the Navy."; and 
(C) by striking out, in subsection (b) as redesignated, in the 
third sentence, the word "officers" and inserting in place thereof 
the words "judge advocates". 
8o^sfat^*ii'2o^°' 
(2) Section 5149 is amended to read as follows: 
"§5149. Office of the Judge Advocate General: Deputy Judge 
Advocate General; Assistant Judge Advocates General 
"(a) A judge advocate of the Navy or Marine Corps who has the 
qualifications prescribed for the Judge AdAOcate General in section 
S"p'^- 
5148(b) of this title shall be detailed as Deputy Judge Advocate 
General of the Navy. While so serving he is entitled to the rank and 
grade of rear admiral (upper half) or major general, as appropriate, 
unless entitled to a higher rank or grade under another provision of 
law. The Deputy Judge Advocate General is entitled to the same priv-
ileges of retirement as provided for chiefs of bureaus in section 5133 
of this title. 
"(b) An officer of the Judge Advocate General's Corps who has 
the qualifications prescribed for the Judge Advocate General in sec-
tion 5148(b) of this title may be detailed as Assistant Judge Advocate 
General of the Navy. While so serving he is entitled to the rank and 
grade of rear admiral (lower half), unless entitled to a higher rank 
or grade under another provision of law. An officer who is retired while 
serving as Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Navy under this 
subsection or who, after serving at least twelve months as Assistant 
Judge Advocate General of the Navy, is retired after completion of 
that service while serving in a lower rank or grade, may, in the dis-
cretion of the President, be retired with the rank and grade of rear 
admiral (lower half). If he is retired as a rear admiral, he is entitled 
to retired pay in the lower half of that grade, unless entitled to higher 
pay under another provision of law. 
"(c) A judge advocate of the Marine Corps who has the qualifica-
tions prescribed for the Judge Advocate General in section 4158(b) of 
this title may be detailed as Assistant Judge Advocate General of the 
Navy. While so serving he is entitled to the rank and grade of brigadier 
general, miless entitled to a higher rank or grade under another pro-
81 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 90-179-DEC. 8, 1967 
547 
vision of law. An officer who is retired while serving as Assistant 
Judge Advocate General of the Navy under this subsection or who, 
after serving at least twelve months as Assistant Judge Advocate 
General of the Navy, is retired after completion of that service while 
serving in a lower rank or grade, may, in the discretion of the Presi-
dent, be retired with the rank and grade of brigadier general. If he is 
retired as a brigadier general, he is entitled to the retired pay of that 
grade, unless entitled to higher pay under another provision of law. 
"(d) When there is a vacancy in the Office of the Judge Advocate 
General, or during the absence or disability of the Judge Advocate 
General, the Deputy Judge Advocate General shall perform the duties 
of the Judge Advocate General until a successor is appointed or the 
absence or disability ceases. 
"(e) When subsection (d) cannot be complied with because of the 
absence or disability of the Deputy Judge Advocate General, the 
Assistant Judge Advocates General, in the order directed by the Sec-
retary of the Navy, shall perform the duties of the Judge Advocate 
General."' 
(.S) The analysis is amended by amending the items relating to 
sections 5148 and 5149 to read as follows: 
"5148. Judge Advocate General's Corps: OflSce of the Judge Advocate General; 
Judge Advocate General; appointment, term, emoluments, duties. 
'••5149. Office of the Judge Advocate General: Deputy .Judge Advocate General; 
Assistant Judge Advocates General." 
70A Stat. 297. 
SEC. 3. Section 5404 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
adding the following new subsection at the end thereof: 
"(c) The Secretary of the Navy, as of January 1 of each year, shall 
establish the authorized strength of the active list of the Navy in 
officers in the Judge Advocate General's Corps." 
SEC. 4. Section 5508(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting the following new clause after clause (5) : " (6) 
Officers in the Judge Advocate General's Corps,"'; and 
(2) by renumbering clauses (6), (T),and (8) as clauses "(T)'*, 
" (8)", and " (9)", respectively. 
SEC. 5. Chapter 539 of title 10, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) The following new section is added after section 5578: 
7OA stat. 322. 
"§ 5578a. Regular Navy; Judge Advocate General's Corps 
"(a) Original appointments to the active list of the Navy in the 
Judge Advocate General's Corps may be made from persons who— 
"(1) are at least twenty-one and under thirty-five years of age; 
"(2) are graduates of an accredited law school or are members 
of the bar of a Federal court or the highest court of a State; and 
"(3) have physical, mental, and moral qualifications satisfac-
tory to the Secretary of the Navy. 
For the purposes of determining lineal position, permanent grade, 
seniority in permanent grade, and eligibilitv for promotion, an officer 
appointed in the Judge Advocate General s Corps shall be credited 
with the amount of service prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, 
but not less than three years. 
"(b) Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Navy may 
prescribe, appointments to the active list of the Navy in the Judge 
Advocate General's Corps may be made from officers of the Navy, 
including the Naval Reserve, in the line or in another staff corps. 
Notwithstanding any other law, an officer appointed under this sub-
section shall have a running mate assigned to him under regulations 
to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy." 
(2) Section 5587(c) is amended by striking out "law,'". 
548 
PUBLIC LAW 90-179-DEC. 8, 1967 
[81 STAT. 
(3) The following new section is added after section 5587: 
"§ 5587a. Regular Marine Corps: judge advocates 
'' (a) With the approval of the Secretary of the Navy, any officer on 
the active list of the Marine Corps who is qualified under section 
827(b) of this title may, upon his application, be designated as a judge 
advocate. 
"(b) For the purposes of determining lineal position, permanent 
grade, seniority in permanent grade, and eligibility for promotion, a 
person appointed to the active list of the Marine Corps with a view to 
designation as a judge advocate may be credited with the amount of 
service prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, but not more than 
three years." 
72 Stat. 1495. 
(4) Sectlon 5600 (b) Is amended— 
(A) by adding at the end of clause (1) the words "(D) Judge 
Advocate General's Corps—3 years;"; 
(B) by striking out clause (2) ; and 
(C) by renumbering clause (3) as clause (2). 
(5) The following new items are inserted in the analysis: 
"5578a. Regular Navy: Judge Advocate General's Corps." 
"5587a. Regular Marine Corps: judge advocates." 
r/st'^at^lssf^^' 
SEC. 6. Section 5762 of title 10, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) Section 5762(d) is amended by inserting the words "Judge 
Advocate General's Corps," after the words "Medical Corps,". 
(2) The following new subsection is added at the end: 
"(f) The Secretary shall furnish the appropriate selection board 
convened under chapter 543 of this title with the number of officers 
that may be recommended for promotion to the grade of captain or 
commander in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. This number, 
determined by the Secretary as of the date the selection board is con-
vened— 
"(1) may not exceed the total number of officers of the Judge 
Advocate General's Corps in the promotion zone for the grade 
concerned; and 
" (2) may not be less than the product of the number of officers 
of the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the promotion zone 
and a fraction, of which the numerator is the number of male line 
officers, not restricted in the performance of duty, placed upon 
the promotion list pursuant to the report of the comparable board 
for the selection of line officers convened in the same fiscal year, and 
the denominator is the number of male line officers, not restricted 
in the performance of duty, in the promotion zone considered by 
that board." 
76 Stat. 454. 
g^c. 7. Sectiou 202 of title 37, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) Subsection (g) is amended by inserting the words "or as 
Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy,'" after the word "Navy"', 
(2) Subsection (h) is amended— 
(A) by striking out "or" at the end of clause (6) ; 
(B) by redesignating clause (7) as clause (8) ; and 
(C) by adding immediately after clause (6) a new clause as 
follows: 
" (7) Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy; or''. 
(3) Subsection (i) is amended by striking out clause (3) thereof 
and by renumbering clauses (4) and (5) as clauses (3) and (4), 
respectively. 
(4) The following new subsection is added at the end : 
"(k) Unless appointed to a higher grade under anotlier provision 
81 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 90-179-DEC. 8, 1967 
549 
of law, an officer of the Navy or Marine Corps serving as Assistant 
Judge Advocate General of the Xavy is entitled to the basic pay of 
a rear admiral (lower half) or brigadier general, as appropriate." 
SEC. 8. (a) In this section "law specialist'' means a line officer on the 
active or retired list of the Regular Navy or of the Naval Reserve 
designated for special duty (law) or a line officer of the Naval Reserve 
assigned a numerical designator indicating a special duty officer 
(law). 
(b) All law specialists in the Navy are redesignated as judge advo-
cates in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the Navy. Each law 
specialist of the Navy who is on a promotion list on the day before 
the effective date of this Act shall be placed on the appropriate promo-
tion list for the Judge Advocate General's Corps and shall be eligible 
for promotion when the officer who is to be his running mate in the 
next higher grade becomes eligible for promotion in that grade. 
SEC. 9. Nothing in this Act shall operate to terminate or reduce tiie 
term of an officer who was serving as Deputy and Assistant Judge 
Advocate General of the Navy on the day before the effective date of 
this Act or to deprive him of the rank, pay, allowances, or retirement 
privileges to which he was then entitled. Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law", an officer who was so serving on the day before the 
effective date of this Act shall be deemed to be detailed as Deputy 
Judge Advocate General, pursuant to section 5149 of title 10, L'nited 
States Code, as amended by this Act, and, in addition to rights and 
benefits then accrued, to be entitled to the rank and retirement benefits 
authorized by that section. For the purposes of determining his eligi-
bility for the retirement benefits authorized by section 5149 of title 
10, United States Code, as amended by this Act, an officer who is 
serving as Deputy Judge Advocate General on the effective date of 
this Act shall be credited with all service performed under appoint-
ment or detail as Deputy and Assistant Judge Advocate General before 
the effective date of this Act. 
SEC. 10. This Act does not affect rights accrued, duties matured, 
or proceedings commenced before its effective date. Redesignation of 
an officer under section 8(b) of this Act shall not operate to change 
the computation of his service for any purpose. 
SEC. 11. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all pro-
Adsions of law applicable to a male officer in the Judge Advocate Gen-
eraFs Corps of the Navy, including the Naval Reserve, are applicable 
to a woman officer in that corps. 
SEC. 12. Title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
the words ", the Judge Advocate General's Corps," after the words 
''the Medical Corps" in section 5652a and by inserting the words "the 
Judge Advocate General's Corps," after the words "the Medical 
Corps," in sections 5581, 5702(b), 5708(c) (1), 5753(b), 5896(a) (8) 
and (4), 5897(c)(1), and 6378(b)(7). 
Approved December 8, 1967. 
" L a w special-
i s t . " 
Redesignation 
in the Judge Ad-
vocate General's 
Corps, Navy. 
Ante, 
p. 546. 
Applicability 
for women naval 
officers. 
72 Stat. 1495.