10 U.S.C. § 8046 — Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps

(a) A Marine Corps officer who is a judge advocate, a member of a federal or state bar, and has at least eight years of legal experience as a commissioned officer, can be appointed by the President — with Senate approval — as Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. (b) (1) Following Secretary of Defense regulations, the Secretary of the Navy must make sure the officer recommended for this job comes from a selection board that, as much as practical, follows the same rules as boards set up under chapter 36 of this title. (2) If the Secretary of the Navy convenes a selection board under section 611(a) of this title to consider officers for this job, the Secretary may treat chapter 36 rules about promotion to "the next higher grade" as meaning promotion to a higher grade generally, and may waive section 619(a)(2) of this title if the Secretary decides the Marine Corps needs it. (c) Under the Commandant's and the Secretary of the Navy's direction, the Staff Judge Advocate must: (1) handle legal matters in the Marine Corps as assigned; (2) perform the duties and powers set out for this position in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (chapter 47) and chapter 53 of this title; and (3) perform any other assigned duties. (d) No Defense Department official or employee may interfere with (1) the Staff Judge Advocate's ability to give the Commandant independent legal advice, or (2) Marine Corps judge advocates' ability to give commanders independent legal advice.