Organizational structure of the Office of the Chief Military Judge

Chief Military Judge

The Governor in Council may designate a military judge, other than a reserve force military judge, to be the Chief Military Judge (CMJ). The CMJ must hold a rank that is not less than colonel. The CMJ assigns military judges to preside at courts martial and to perform other judicial duties under the National Defence Act (NDA).

The Chief Military Judge is Captain (N) Catherine Julie Deschênes.

Deputy Chief Military Judge

The Governor in Council has designated a military judge, other than a reserve force military judge, to be the Deputy Chief Military Judge (DCMJ). In the event that the Chief Military Judge is absent or unable to act or the office of Chief Military Judge is vacant, the Deputy Chief Military Judge shall exercise and perform the powers, duties and functions of the Chief Military Judge that are not otherwise authorized to be exercised or performed by a military judge under section 165.26.

The current Deputy Chief Military Judge is TBA.

Military judges

Military judges are appointed by the Governor in Council. The Governor in Council can only remove a military judge based on the recommendation of an independent inquiry committee. Military judges’ compensation is established based on the recommendations of an independent compensation committee. Military judges adjudicate at courts martial and other military proceedings such as the judicial review of persons held in pre-trial custody.

The current military judges are:

Court Martial Administrator

The Court Martial Administrator (CMA) acts under the general supervision of the CMJ and convenes courts martial in respect of charges that have been preferred by the Director of Military Prosecutions. The General Courts Martial is composed of a military judge and a panel of five Canadian Forces members. The CMA appoints their members. The CMA performs many other prescribed statutory and regulatory duties, such as those referred to in subsection 165.19(1) of the NDA and article 101.17 of the Queen’s Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces (QR&O).

The CMA is responsible for any matters dealing with court administration, including the preparation of a record for the Court Martial Appeal Court when an appeal is made to that Court. The services provided by the CMA are similar but not identical to the services provided by a registrar of a permanent civil court. In the end, the CMA manages the Office of the Chief Military Judge and supervises personnel, other than military judges.

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2025-02-19

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Organizational structure of the Office of the Chief Military Judge

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