The Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is an office established under the Defence Force Discipline Act (1982). This position is held by a judge or former judge of a federal court or a state supreme court. The appointment of the JAG is made by the Governor-General-in-Council. The JAG has the authority to establish procedural rules for tribunals operating within the Navy, Army, and Air Force. They also conduct the final legal review of proceedings within the ADF and play a role in the appointment of judge advocates, Defence Force magistrates, presidents, and members of courts martial, as well as legal officers for various purposes. Additionally, the JAG is responsible for reporting on the operation of laws concerning the discipline of the ADF.
The current Judge Advocate General is Major General the Hon. Justice Paul Smith AM.
The JAG is assisted by three deputy judge advocates general (DJAG), one for each service: DJAG – Navy DJAG – Army DJAG – Air Force The current Deputy Judge Advocates General are:
Navy: Commodore Her Honour Judge Catherine Traill RAN Army: Vacant Air Force: Air Commodore The Hon. Justice Melissa Perry
List of Judge Advocates General The following individuals have been appointed as Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force: Order Name Organisation Term start Term end Notes 1 MAJGEN The Hon. Supreme Court of South Australia 2 AVM The Hon. Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia 3 RADM The Hon. Family Court of Australia 4 MAJGEN The Hon. Supreme Court of South Australia 5 MAJGEN The Hon. Supreme Court of Western Australia 6 MAJGEN The Hon. Federal Court of Australia 7 RADM The Hon. Supreme Court of New South Wales 2021 8 RADM The Hon. Jack Rush Supreme Court of Victoria20212026 9 MAJGEN The Hon. Paul Smith Supreme Court of Queensland13 August 2026Incumbent
See also
Judge Advocate General Military Court of Australia
References
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