DAOD 7007-0, Military Justice at the Unit Level
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Date of issue: 2024-09-05
Application: This DAOD is an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF members).
- Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS)
- Judge Advocate General (JAG)
Enquiries: Director of Law, Military Justice Policy (DLaw, MJ Pol)
2. Policy Direction
Context
2.1 The purpose of the military justice system is to maintain the discipline, efficiency, and morale of the CAF. The continuous modernization of the military justice system ensures it reflects current Canadian values and aligns with developments in the civilian justice system.
2.2 This DAOD is intended to provide supplementary direction that will assist the chain of command (CoC) to properly administer military justice at the unit level.
2.3 The summary hearing (SH) process is the CoC’s primary tool for maintaining the discipline, efficiency, and morale of the CAF through the investigation, charging, and adjudication of service infractions at the unit level. Essential aspects of the SH process are largely prescribed in the National Defence Act (NDA) and the Queen’s Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces (QR&O). Supplementary direction and guidance to the applicable NDA and QR&O provisions are set out in the Military Justice at the Unit Level Policy (MJUL Policy).
Policy Statement
2.4 The CoC must ensure that CAF members who perform duties in the administration of military justice at the unit level are familiar with the SH process in the NDA, the QR&O, the MJUL Policy and any other pertinent directives, orders and instructions.
Requirements
2.5 The CoC must ensure that:
a. CAF members who will potentially be called upon to perform duties in the administration of military justice at the unit level are familiar with the NDA, the QR&O, the MJUL Policy and any other pertinent directives, orders and instructions;
b. superior commanders, commanding officers, and delegated officers hold a valid certification from the JAG attesting to successful completion of the MJUL course within the last four years, in order to perform Officer Conducting Summary Hearing duties in the administration of military justice at the unit level; and
c. assisting members for persons charged with having committed a service infraction hold a valid certification from the JAG attesting to successful completion of the MJUL course within the last four years, except if the person charged with having committed a service infraction has been informed and accept their assisting member’s lack of training and certification.
3. Consequences
General
3.1 Should clarification of the policy statement, requirements, or authorities set out in this DAOD be required, CAF members may seek direction through their CoC. The anticipated results set out in the policy statement may not be achieved by the CAF if the requirements specified in this DAOD are not properly implemented. Not achieving the anticipated results could affect the ability of the CAF to ensure that it is prepared to undertake missions for the protection of Canada and Canadians and the maintenance of international peace and stability.
4. Authorities
Authority Table
4.1 The following table identifies the authorities associated with this DAOD:
| The | has or have the authority to … |
|---|---|
| CDS and JAG |
|
| JAG |
|
5. References
Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Policy DAOD
- National Defence Act
- QR&O article 4.02, General Responsibilities of Officers
- QR&O article 5.01, General Responsibilities of Non-Commissioned Members
- QR&O article 19.01, Observance and Enforcement of Regulations, Orders and Instructions
- QR&O Chapter 101, General Provisions Respecting the Code of Service Discipline
- QR&O Chapter 102, Investigation and Laying of Charges
- QR&O Chapter 108, Declaration of Victims Rights
- QR&O Chapter 120, Service Infractions
- QR&O Chapter 121, Referral of Charges and Post-Charge Procedure
- QR&O Chapter 122, Summary Hearings
- QR&O Chapter 123, Sanctions
- QR&O Chapter 124, Review
Other Reference
- CANFORGEN 016/18, CDS Direction on Professional Military Conduct
- CANFORGEN 023/20, Introduction of Time Standards in the Military Justice System
- CANFORGEN 089/22, Victims Rights and Summary Hearing Implementation
- Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces Code of Values and Ethics
- Statement of Defence Ethics
- Canadian Armed Forces Ethos: Trusted to Serve
- Duty with Honour: The Profession of Arms in Canada 2009
- Military Justice – Unit Level (MJUL) course (available via the Defence Learning Network)
- Military Justice – Unit Level (MJUL), SharePoint intranet site
- Military Justice at the Unit Level Policy, National Defence website