For almost 15 years, beginning in 1970, the Army’s appellate defense folks produced an engaging, useful publication called THE ADVOCATE.   It was an extremely aggressive and defense-intense magazine dealing with all aspects of military Justice in the courtroom.  Nothing was beyond THE ADVOCATE’s efforts to make better defense counsel   — military/civilian defense counsel relationships; blood tests; interview strategy; polygraphs — the list goes on and on.

Some of this fine material may be overtaken by events.  However, these magazines – likely gathering dust on a bottom shelf someplace in the legal office  — can be hugely valuable to the practitioner. Wise litigators would do well to review these volumes.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Among other things, THE ADVOCATE printed “quotable quotes” from actual records of trial.  Some vintage samples:

MJ: Captain X, you look like you had a question.

DC: I’m sorry Your Honor, I do not mean to look that way.  That is my normal state of expression.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(counsel is prepared to make an offer proof).

DC: Your Honor, we object to all of that.

MJ:  On what basis?

DC:  Its’ detrimental to our case.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 [Question to military policeman who testified he caught the accused committing an offense:]

TC:  Did the accused stop after you shot your pistol in the air?.

WIT:  No — he ran even faster.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Cross-examination of defense witness in extenuation and mitigation).

TC:  What kind of things does your platoon do?

WIT: Not much except when we go into the field.

TC:  And when you’re not doing anything, is he an especially good worker?

WIT: Yes, sir.

DC:  Objection, that is a compound question.

MJ”  Overruled. Overruled.