Defense Secretary Orders Ongoing Review of Military Legal System

The panel will deliver interim reports and recommendations on specific issues as they are completed.

Earl Matthews, the Defense Department's general counsel, will convene the panel. The review covers military justice implementation, command advice, and legal support for commanders and troops. Hegseth wrote that previous assessments, including statutory reviews and GAO reports, provided valuable insights but that a more comprehensive examination is now required.

Hegseth previously fired the Army, Navy, and Air Force's top lawyers in his first weeks on the job. He also commissioned his personal lawyer into the Navy's JAG corps the following month. In March, a memo ordered a split of duties between the Judge Advocate Generals and the general counsel offices. At least one service branch submitted a plan last month to address those duties.

Lepper, a retired Air Force lawyer, said the panel appears to be part of a power grab for legal oversight of the armed services. He stated that the Pentagon is substituting its own panel for one previously created by Congress. Lepper added that current military lawyers have reported they are not being asked to provide input on legal opinions related to operations including the Iran conflict.