Judge Advocate of the Fleet

Office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Department of the Admiralty, Ministry of Defence
Member of	Board of Admiralty, Admiralty Board, Navy Board
Reports to	First Sea Lord
Nominator	First Lord of the Admiralty, Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (typically 1–5 years)
Inaugural holder	Judge Advocate, J. Fowler
Formation	1663-2003

The Judge Advocate of the Fleet was an appointed civilian judge who was responsible for the supervision and superintendence of the court martial system in the Royal Navy from 1663 to 2008.

The position dates to the sixteenth century but was filled on an occasional basis until 1663 when it became a permanent role. Appointments were by Admiralty Order and included an annual stipend worth £146 between 1663 and 1666, and £182 thereafter. From 1824 the Judge Advocate also held office as Counsel to the Admiralty.

Until 2004 the Judge Advocate shared responsibility for the naval court martial system with the Chief Naval Judge Advocate, a legally trained serving naval officer who was responsible for the appointment of judge advocates. However the Chief Naval Judge Advocate's post was abolished in 2004 following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that held that, as a serving naval officer, his position was insufficiently independent.

The role of 'Judge Advocate of the Fleet was taken over by the Judge Advocate General from 2004 onwards. It was formally abolished on 31 December 2008 under the Armed Forces Act 2006.