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Justice for All: JBLM Legal Offices Host Military Justice Orientation for Local Prosecutors

  • Published
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Legal Office
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The 62d Airlift Wing Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, along with the I Corps Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, hosted more than 12 prosecutors from the local community Nov. 18, 2014 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 

The event focused on the military justice system and the benefits of close coordination between military prosecutors and their civilian counterparts.  In addition to briefings from both Air Force and Army judge advocates, the event featured remarks from Col. David Kumashiro, 62nd Airlift Wing commander, a JBLM mission brief from Col. Anthony Davit, 627th Air Base Group commander and culminated with a static display of a C-17 Globemaster III, showcasing the Air Force's Air Mobility Mission.

While the vast majority of JBLM servicemembers never run afoul of the law, one of our own occasionally finds him or herself facing criminal charges in our local communities.

Given dual jurisdiction, the military has the ability to prosecute misconduct even if committed in the local community, it is imperative that military and civilian prosecutors work together to protect communities and promote good order and discipline. 

This event served as a beginning of a continuing dialogue between Air Force and Army prosecutors and their counterparts from Pierce and Thurston Counties, the Cities of Tacoma, Federal Way, Lakewood, Lacey, and Bonney Lake.