On May 7, 2026, CERL Executive Board Member General Joseph Votel gave special remarks at the Judge Advocates Association/Judge Advocates Foundation 2026 Awards Dinner about the importance of staff judge advocates in the conduct of American military operations. He highlighted the critical role judge advocates play in navigating the difficult legal questions that arise on the battlefield and in various military operations.

Recent comments by senior civil leaders suggest that the legal advice passed on by judge advocates has hampered the effectiveness of the American armed forces. General Votel offers a different viewpoint: that independent and accurate legal counsel is essential to the military’s success and to advancing the nation’s security interests.

While commanders retain ultimate responsibility for any operation, independent legal advisors are crucial to the success of the military and help ensure consistency with the legal frameworks that are fundamental to preserving the legitimacy of and support for military operations.

General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.), is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He is a Distinguished Military Fellow at the Middle East Institute and a member of the CERL Executive Board. Read his bio here.  

The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of any organization or university.