Judge Advocate of the Fleet

In the United Kingdom, the Judge Advocate of Her Majesty's Fleet was a civilian judge who was responsible for the supervision and superintendence of the court martial system in the Royal Navy.

The position dates to the sixteenth century but was filled on an occasional basis until 1663 when it became a permanent role. Appointments were by Admiralty Order and included an annual stipend worth £146 between 1663 and 1666, and £182 thereafter. From 1824 the Judge Advocate also held office as Counsel to the Admiralty.^[1]

Until 2004 the Judge Advocate shared responsibility for the naval court martial system with the Chief Naval Judge Advocate, a legally trained serving naval officer who was responsible for the appointment of judge advocates. However the Chief Naval Judge Advocate's post was abolished in 1957^[2] following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that held that, as a serving naval officer, his position was insufficiently independent.^[3]

The role of 'Judge Advocate of the Fleet was taken over by the Judge Advocate General from 2004 onwards.^[4] It was formally abolished on 31 December 2008 under the Armed Forces Act 2006.^[5]

List of Judge Advocates of the Fleet

1663 J. Fowler[1] 1672 J. Brisbane[1] 1680 H. Croone[1] 1689 P. Foster[1] 1689 F. Bacher[1] 1690 Villiers Bathurst[1] 1711 W. Strahan[1] 1714 E. Honywood[1] 1724 J. Copeland[1] 1729 T. Hawes[1] 1743 T. Kempe[1] 1744 Charles Fearne[1]

1768 George Jackson[1] 1824 H. Twiss[1] 1828 H. J. Shepherd[1] 1845 R. Godson[1] 1849 Richard Budden Crowder[1] 1854 Thomas Phinn[1] 1855 William Atherton[1] 1859 Robert Collier, 1st Baron Monkswell[1] 1863 Thomas Phinn[1] 1866 John Walter Huddleston[1] 1875–1904 Alexander Stavely Hill [6]

1904–1924 Reginald Brodie Dyke Acland [7] 1924-1933 Charles Murray Pitman[8] 1933 J G Trapnell 1943 J Lhind Pratt 1945 Ewen Montagu 1973 William Howard 1986 Felix Waley 1995 J L Sessions 2004 Moribund 2008 Abolished

References

1. J.C. Sainty (1975). "Judge Advocate of the Fleet 1663-1870". Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4: Admiralty Officials 1660-1870. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
2. Naval Discipline Act 1957 (Remedial) Order 2004, SI 2004/66
3. Grieves v. United Kingdom (N° 57067/00) Judgment 16.12.2003 [Grand Chamber]
4. "Military Justice". Judiciary of England and Wales. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-04-13. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
5. S.272(2)/ Sch.8; s.378(2)/ Sch.17; Armed Forces Act 2006 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2007, SI 2007/2913
6. Debrett, John (1901). Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage. London: Dean & Son Ltd. p. 361.
7. Debrett, John (1922). Arthur G. M. Hesilrige, ed. Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage. London: Dean & Son Ltd. p. 375.
8. Mr. C. M. Pitman, K.C. The Times (London, England), Friday, Oct 15, 1948; pg. 7; Issue 51203. (471 words)