MILTARY LAW SECTION
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MISSION STATEMENT

The Military Law Section of the National Bar Association provides an active network for inter-service cooperation between military lawyers; provides a forum to interact and inform civilian attorneys and judges about the practice of law in the military; provides opportunities for networking with members of the civilian bar; and provides a forum to monitor important legal issues affecting the military community.

History of the Military Law Section of the
National Bar Association

The relationship between the military lawyers and the National Bar Association (NBA) began in 1972 at the 47th Annual NBA Convention in Miami, Florida. The Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGC) set up a display booth at this convention to inform black lawyers and law students about the practice of law in the military.

The involvement of the JAGC at this convention was part of an initiative to recruit and retain highly qualified minority lawyers. Like the nation itself, during the late sixties and early seventies, the military experienced severe ration tension. Major changes in the military criminal system caused black soldiers to demand representation by black military lawyers. The Army was unable to meet the demand with just 16 black lawyers in Corps of 1600 lawyers.

The acute shortage of black military attorneys prompted Army officials to create a task force on minority recruitment. The task forced included black Army JAGC officers such as then CPT Togo D. West, Jr. (former Secretary of the Army and former Secretary of Veteran's Affairs), CPT Sanford W. Harvey, Jr. (Colonel, Retired), and CPT Curtis B. Smothers (former Assistant Secretary of Defense). The task force recommended the creation of the JAGC Minority Lawyer Recruiting Program (MLRP) and then CPT Kenneth D. Gray (now Major General Retired, who served as the Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Army's JAGC) became its first director. By 1974, there were 38 black Army lawyers on active duty and then CPT William P. Greene succeeded CPT Gray as director of the MLRP. Building upon the successful recruiting efforts, CPTs Greene and Gray co-founded the Military Law Section (MLS) and CPT Greene served as the first Chairperson.

The MLS has grown and is composed of members from all services. The relationship between the MLS and the NBA has been mutually beneficial. Our members are active participants in all NBA programs.

The MLS continues to provide an active network for inter-service cooperation between military lawyers and provides a forum to interact and inform civilian attorneys and judges about the practice of law in the military. The objectives of the NBA are consistent with the purpose of the MLS. Our members demonstrate their commitment to the Nation on a daily basis, just as the NBA demonstrated its commitment to our community since 1925.

The strong relationship between the NBA and MLS is something that has developed over the years and we are very proud of that relationship. The members of the MLS will continue to actively support the NBA.

2001-2002 MLS Leadership

Chair:
William E. Brown, CPT
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
Fort Sill, Oklahoma 73503
Telephone: (580) 442-2703
brownw@sill.army.mil

Vice Chair:
Hardy Vieux, Lieutenant
Navy-Marine Corps Defense Division
716 Sicard St., SE, Ste. 100
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374
vieuxh@jag.navy.mil

Treasurer:
James M. Durant III, Major,
USAF Deputy Staff Judge Advocate
Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
(318) 456-5324
JamesD@BARKSDALE.AF.MIL

Secretary:
Anece Baxter-White Captain,
U.S. Army Group Judge Advocate 3d Military Police Group (CID)
4699 N. 1st Street
Fort Gillem, GA 30297
(404) 469-7495
Anece.BaxterWhite@forscom.army.mil

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