MEDIA ADVISORY: Protect Our Defenders President Joins Panel to Discuss UCMJ Reforms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2016
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS PRESIDENT JOINS PANEL OF MILITARY AND LEGAL EXPERTS TO DISCUSS PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO REFORM UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE
Colonel Don Christensen, USAF (Ret.) served 23 years as a U.S. Air Force JAG, four as the Chief Prosecutor—the longest tenure for anyone in that position, Col Christensen has repeatedly called for fundamental reform to the broken military justice system
Washington, D.C. — This Thursday, March 24th, Protect Our Defenders President and former Air Force Chief Prosecutor, Colonel Don Christensen (Ret.) will be participating in a panel discussion presented by the America Bar Association with other military and legal experts about the Pentagon’s recent legislative proposal to Congress on changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
The Department of Defense (DoD) recently forwarded a legislative proposal to Congress – the first military justice package submitted to Congress by the DoD in more than 30 years.
Please email Susan.Koz@americanbar.org to RSVP.
What: The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law, in cooperation with the ABA’s Standing Committee on Law and National Security and the Judge Advocates Association panel discussion
Who:
- The Honorable James Baker, (ret.) Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (moderator)
- Col Don Christensen, USAF (ret.), President, Protect the Defenders
- The Honorable Andrew Effron, former Director of the MJRG
- William N. Pigott, Chair, DoD Joint Service Committee on Military Justice
- Lt Col Julie Huygen, U.S. Air Force representative, Joint Service Committee on Military Justice
- Col Walt Hudson, U.S. Army representative, Joint Service Committee on Military Justice
- Warren A. Record, U.S. Navy representative, Joint Service Committee on Military Justice
- Ross L. Sargent, U.S. Coast Guard
When: Thursday, March 24, 2016 (6:00pm-8:00pm)
Where: The Founders Room, Offices of Dentons US (1900 K Street)
Please email Susan.Koz@americanbar.org to RSVP.
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ProPublica: About Face: U.S. Military Seeks Historic Overhaul of Justice System
https://www.propublica.org/article/about-face-us-military-seeks-historic-overhaul-of-justice-system
Reuter: Pentagon chief eyes reforms to U.S. military structure
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-reforms-idUSKCN0W62GV
Washington Post: More high-ranking officers being charged with sex crimes against subordinates
About Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders (POD) is a human rights organization. We seek to honor, support and give voice to the brave women and men in uniform who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country and re-victimized by the military adjudication system. POD provides pro bono casework and legal assistance to survivors. Learn more about Protect Our Defenders at www.protectourdefenders.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ProtectOurDefenders or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ProtectRDfnders.
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