judge advocate

An officer of a court martial who is to discharge some duties at the trial of offenders. His duties are to prosecute in the name of the United States; hut he shall so far consider himself as counsel for the prisoner, after the prisoner shall have made his plea, as to object to leading questions to any of the witnesses, or any question to the prisoner the answer to which might tend to criminate himself. He is, further, to swear the members of the court before they proceed upon any trial. Rules & Articles of War, art. 69; 2 Story, U. S. Laws, 1001; Holt, Dig. passim.

An officer of a court-martial who is to discharge certain duties at the trial of offenders. His duties are to prosecute in the name of the United States; but he shall so far consider himself as counsel for the prisoner, after the prisoner shall have made his plea, as to object to leading questions to any of the witnesses or any question to the prisoner the afl^wer court before they proceed upon any trial, and may also administer oaths for purposes of military justice and other purposes of military administration; U. S. B. S. 2 Supp. 624. JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL’S DE-

An officer of a court-martial, whose duty is to swear in the other members of the court, to advise the court, and to act as the public prosecutor; but he is also so far the counsel for the prisoner as to be bound to protect him from the necessity of answering criminating questions, and to object to leading questions when propounded to other witnesses.

Defined under Judge in Black's Law Dictionary.

An officer of a court-martial, whose duty is to swear in the other members of the court, to advise the court, aud to act us the publie prosecutor; but he is also so far the counsel for the prisener as to be bound to protect lin: from the necessity of answering criminating questions, and to object to leading questions when propounded to other witnesses.

The advising and prosecuting officer in military law or before a court-martial. He may be the judge-advocate general, or a deputy judge-advocate. In conducting a trial, he represents the' United Sta/.es, the accused, and the court. The officer highest in rank present is president of the court. The officer who may order a court-martial is competent--to appoint the judge-advocate; the appointment for a regimental or a garrison court-martial is made in the same manner as for a general courtmartial. Without the order of the court, he may summon necessary witnesses; and he may compel the attendance of any person not in the military service. "When it is possible, he should send subpoenas through regular militar,y channels. He also conducts the examination of witnesses, observing the established rules of evidence. By order of the court he may) be assisted by a clerk, preference being given to a soldier. At the close of the trial, without delay, he should' transmit the proceedings to the officer having authority to confirm the sentence.* Communications relating to questions of military justice or proceedings of military courts, upon which the opinion of the judge-advocate general is desired, are to be forwarded through proper channels to the adjutant-general, when such questions cannot be decided by an intermediate authority. But questions of an abstract, general character will not be considered.* See Martial, Court, etc.

is an officer who is a member of a court martial. His duties are to prosecute in the name of the United States, but he shall so far consider himself as counsel for the prisoner, after the prisoner shall have made his plea, as to object to leading questions to any of the witnesses, or any question to the prisoner, the answer to members of the court before they proceed upon any trial. Rules and Articles of War, art. 69, 2 Story,