§ 95. Sir W. Allenasked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the date of appointment of the present Judge Advocate-General and his legal qualifications; whether the Judge Advocate-General decides appeals from the decisions of courts martial in consultation with the Army Council; and whether there is any appeal from his decisions.
§ Mr. BellengerThe present Judge Advocate-General was appointed in 17th September, 1934. He has been one of His Majesty's counsel since 1924 and a bencher of the Middle Temple since 1931. Before assuming his present appointment he served as Military and Air Force Deputy of the Judge Advocate-General and in charge of the Military and Air Force Department of his Office from 1923 onwards.
The Judge Advocate-General does not decide appeals from courts martial. His function is to review the proceedings of all courts martial to see whether they have been regular and legal and he does this in normal course. He also advises on any petition against a finding of a court martial. Where in his opinion there are legal grounds for quashing proceedings of a court martial he so advises the appropriate Secretary of State.