When he joined the Army initially, Cotton turned down its suggestion he join as an attorney with the Judge Advocate General.

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The identity of five Royal Marines charged with murder after an incident in Afghanistan will not be disclosed, the judge advocate general has decided.

BBC: Five marines charged with murder get anonymity

An anonymity order, granted last year to protect the identities of the five accused by the judge advocate general Cmdr Jeff Blackett, will remain "in full force in respect of all five" marines until further instruction.

BBC: Murder charges against two marines dropped

This allows counsel to get "actively involved in cases at the earliest stages, defense counsel have successfully negotiated non-punitive dispositions of cases that otherwise may have been disposed of at courts-martial, " according to the Report of the Judge Advocate General for Fiscal Year 2005.

FORBES: A Few Bad Men

Walter Huffman, the Dean of Texas Tech School of Law and a former Army judge advocate general, says the wheels of military justice move slow, but they do grind on.

NPR: Two Years After Abu Ghraib, Abuse Reports Linger

Outlining the arguments orally, Mr Clegg said the "improper pressure" came when Mr Winter told Sgt Nightingale what the original trial judge - Assistant Judge Advocate General Alistair McGrigor - "was saying".

BBC: Sally and Danny Nightingale

Major General MICHAEL NARDOTTI JR. (Former Judge Advocate General): The president, as the commander-in-chief, can enter into an agreement.

NPR: U.S., Iraq Ponder Long-Term Treaty

Despite the enormity of the scandal, the Bush administration was slow to react, and did not hold senior officers accountable, says John Hutson, dean of the Franklin Pierce Law Center and a former Navy judge advocate general.

NPR: Walter Reed Reaction Contrasts with Abu Ghraib