| A Note from the Office of Dean Leonard M. Baynes |
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Allied Forces and Germany agreed to lay down their arms and signaled the end of WWI on the Western Front. For 104 years, the United States has observed November 11th as a day of remembrance and recognition, celebrating the bravery and service of the men and women of our armed forces. This 105th year will be no different. We reflect with gratitude on those who have patriotically served our nation and shouldered their burdens of duty. Our nation’s veterans come from all walks of life and all geographic locations. While serving our nation with distinction, veterans and their families have also faced challenges that most of us can only imagine. They stand resilient in the face of that adversity, dedicating themselves to a cause greater than themselves—service to, and defense of, our nation! At the University of Houston Law Center, we humbly try to reciprocate by providing service to our noble military personnel and veterans while we provide our students with an inclusive legal education. To assist in this mission, the Military Justice Clinic was established in 2020 by clinical adjunct professor Jason Marquez. Professor Marquez is a veteran of 22 years in uniform, over 15 of those on active duty. He currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. |
MJC students at a Court Martial at Fort Cambell, KY
MJC students and Professor Jason Marquez on campus. |
The Clinic offers counsel and representation to members and veterans of the U.S. military on a wide variety of legal matters that they may encounter with the military justice system. The MJC has represented clients across the country in court-martial proceedings, reinstated suspended promotions, and discharge upgrades. The Clinic is a great way for students to show that they are serious about future service in the JAG Corps. Receiving a JAG Corps commission is a highly competitive endeavor and having a track record of service to country and our service members is important on a candidate’s resume. Notably, the majority of graduates who participated in the MJC are now serving in uniform in the JAG Corps across multiple military branches:
I would like to express my pride in the Military Justice Clinic, Prof. Marquez and these graduates and the scores of other Law Center alumni who also served in the military. We thank you for your service. As we commemorate Veterans Day, let us reflect on the values that unite us as a nation—the values that inspire our veterans selflessly to serve our nation so nobly as we constantly strive for a more perfect union. Let us also remember the resilience of our servicemen and women and draw strength from their example. Finally, let us recommit ourselves to the task of building a society based on the founding principles of liberty, equality, and justice for all. Leonard M. Baynes Share Your Thoughts with the Dean |
