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In the most recent court term, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) court confronted the various conflicts that arise from confusion of the roles of parties to the court-martial process. Specifically, what is the impact on the trial if the staff judge advocate (SJA) who advised the convening authority sits as the military judge of the accused?1 The court also examined the limits of the right to counsel when the accused hires a civilian attorney who was a former military prosecutor.2 The court also examined the ethical quandary of a defense counsel who simultaneously wears the hat of a prosecutor.3 Finally, the court examined whether a defense counsel can ethically argue against his client's innocence.4 The term revealed no global rule for resolving matters of apparent conflict other than perhaps a rule of common sense. Where conflict was illusory and remote, the court ordered no relief.5 Where conflict was obvious and threatened the credibility of proceedings, the court upheld action to sever it.6 Where it was unclear, the court sought more clarity.7
I'll Be Seeing You In All the Old Familiar Places . . . 8
Rule for Courts-Martial 1106(c) and the Definition of Same Courts-Martial
In United States v. Moorefield, Sergeant (SGT) Daqric Moorefield, was convicted contrary to his pleas of making a false official statement, insubordination, attempting to strike a military policeman, disorderly conduct, soliciting a crime, communicating a threat, impersonating a non-commissioned officer, and five specifications of assault.9 For his crimes he was sentenced to two years confinement and a bad conduct discharge.10 At some point, SGT Moorefield realized the SJA who advised the convening authority before his trial and prepared the post-trial review was familiar to him.11 The SJA had sat as a military judge on SGT Moorefield's earlier unrelated court-martial.12
The court examined whether prior service as a military judge disqualified the SJA from taking action for this accused.13 Sergeant Moorefield relied on the provisions of RCM 1106 (b).14 This rule provides that:
No person who has acted as member, military judge, trial counsel, assistant trial counsel, defense counsel, associate or assistant defense counsel, or investigating officer in any case may later act as a staff judge advocate or legal officer to any reviewing or convening...