Qualifications for judge advocates

(a) In general Section 806 of title 10, United States Code (article 6 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (a) through (d) as subsections (b) through (e), respectively; (2) by inserting before subsection (b), as redesignated by paragraph (1), the following new subsection: (a) (1) Judge advocates subject to this chapter must be— (A) admitted to the practice of law before the highest court of a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, and maintain an active license to practice before such court; (B) subject to the jurisdiction’s disciplinary review process; and (C) in compliance with such other requirements as the cognizant authority has set to remain eligible to practice law. (2) The Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard and the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps may suspend the authority of judge advocates in their respective services to perform legal duties if such officers become noncompliant with the requirements in paragraph (1). Judge advocates and legal officers suspended or disbarred from the practice of law within a jurisdiction shall not perform legal duties.. (3) Conforming amendments (A) Trial counsel and defense counsel Section 827(b) of title 10, United States Code (article 27(b) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is amended by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) must be a judge advocate who is qualified under section 806(a)(1) of this title (article 6(a)(1)); and. (B) Special trial counsel Section 824a(b)(1) of title 10, United States Code (article 24a(b)(1) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is amended by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: (A) is a judge advocate who is qualified under section 806(a)(1) of this title (article 6(a)(1)); and.