The New International Encyclopædia/Judge-Advocate

JUDGE-ADVOCATE. The prosecutor on a general court-martial or military commission. In the United States the judge-advocate is usually detailed at the same time the authority for the convening of the court is issued, and, except in exceptional cases, is a member of the judge-advocate-general's department. In the British Army such duties devolve upon a specially detailed staff officer, or the prisoner's commanding officer. In district or regimental court-martials, the latter officer is usually represented by the regimental adjutant. The prisoner has the right to call on any regimental officer to speak in his behalf. See Judge-Advocate-General; Courts, Military; Military Law, under which latter heading the duties of the judge-advocate in courts-martial are discussed.