By Sgt. Danny Hough, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
NEW ORLEANS – More than 60 military legal professionals from across Louisiana and neighboring states gathered at Jackson Barracks June 5-7 for the Louisiana National Guard Judge Advocate General Corps Annual Legal Conference, which featured Maj. Gen. Bobby Christine, judge advocate general of the Army, as a keynote speaker.
The conference provided continuing legal education and professional development opportunities for military attorneys and paralegals while strengthening partnerships among legal professionals throughout the National Guard and reserve components.
Hosted by the Louisiana National Guard, the conference was led by Col. Kelly Gandy, state judge advocate for the Louisiana National Guard. Attendees participated in training sessions covering ethics, professionalism and emerging legal issues affecting military legal practitioners.
Christine discussed contemporary legal challenges facing the Army JAG Corps and the evolving legal landscape facing military attorneys.
Additional presentations included Col. Yvette Yarbrough, Louisiana Air National Guard staff judge advocate, who discussed domestic operations law and its application to service members, and Col. Mark Majors, senior legal advisor to the chief of staff at the National Guard Bureau, who addressed the bureau’s legal authorities and responsibilities.
Jenny Hanson, Louisiana’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program director, addressed the legal aspects of the SAPR program, including policy considerations and victim advocacy initiatives.
The conference also served as a joint training opportunity, bringing together members of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Louisiana Air National Guard JAG Corps, the Louisiana State Guard JAG Corps, the Mississippi National Guard JAG Corps and personnel from the U.S. Army Reserve, including representatives from the 2nd Legal Operations Detachment and other Army Reserve legal organizations.